Farmers call for road development

Victoria’s farming peak body has called on state and federal governments to work together to complete Victorian dualcarriageway works on the Western Highway.

Victorian Farmers Grains Group president Ross Johns said it was essential the two primary tiers of government worked collaboratively to finish the job they had started, as soon as possible.

“Duplication of the highway from the South Australian border to Melbourne is critical to enable Victorian farmers to efficiently get their product to market,” he said.

“More and more grain is being stored on farm as farming and marketing techniques evolve, and our road network must also evolve in line with modern day requirements.

“As a result of the ongoing drought, a lot of grain and hay is moved by truck across the country, but too often the timely transport of this is hampered by unnecessary and inconsistent regulation and indirect access due to an inefficient road network.”

Mr Johns said a dual-carriage Western Highway was more efficient and safer for all road users and would allow for shorter travel times and less driving hours.

“High-productivity vehicles including B-doubles need fit-for-purpose roads, and the Western Highway is an integral part of the Victorian road network,” he said.

“It connects Melbourne to Adelaide in the same way the Hume Highway connects Melbourne to Sydney.”

Mr Johns said the VFF, as well as calling for a modern road network, encouraged councils to reassess B-double access on municipal roads to ensure agricultural produce from all types of farms could move as efficiently as possible.

Work on a Western Highway dual-carriageway project from Melbourne to Stawell has stalled between Beaufort and Ararat.