Residents asked to join lobbying efforts on traffic congestion
A grim picture of the traffic problems Warragul and Drouin face unless major new arterial roads are constructed has been painted in a report for Baw Baw Shire council.
Council has been advocating strongly for action to address a 100-year old arterial roads system serving both towns that is "past its useby date," conceding it already can't cope with current congestion and growth and wants residents and ratepayers to join lobbying efforts to the state government for a fix.
In an appeal through its Facebook page the council is asking the public to write to government representatives (a letter template is available to download), join discussions on possible solutions, spread the message via social media, have talks with colleagues and friends and write letters to newspapers.
As a starting point council wants the government to provide $3 million to plan and design a road network to solve the existing problems and cope with an extra 20,000 new homes it expects will be built in the shire's two principal towns "in the next few years" and doubling of the shire's population to 100,000 by 2035.
It says the road systems are is not designed for the level of traffic they already carry.
Congestion is also hindering commercial and industrial development as well as causing safety issues through the town centres.
Council said its lobbying efforts to date include engaging with four relevant State government Ministers, local State members of parliament Gary Blackwood (Narracan) and Harriet Shing (Eastern Victoria region) and Federal members Russell Broadbent (Monash) and Darren Chester (Gippsland).
It has also formed strategic partnerships with Peri-Urban Councils Victoria, One Gippsland and Food and Fibre Gippsland, conducted a range of research and surveys, spoken with local businesses and consulted industry groups and representative bodies to push the issue.
More than 100 people have already responded to the council's Facebook posting with comments about the issue.
The case for local business and industry representatives to become involved in lobbying was pressed last Wednesday at a "by invitation" information and discussion session with senior council officials.
A live-streamed question and answer session for residents is planned at a later date.
Council priority roadworks to address the traffic issues are:
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Western and eastern bypasses on the south side of Drouin.
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A northern bypass of Warragul involving extension of Dollarburn Rd from Brandy Creek Rd to Princes Freeway north of Drouin.
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Improved intersections at Princes Way-Wellwood Rd in Drouin and Howitt St-Burke St in Warragul.
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Duplication of Princes Way between Warragul and Drouin, and
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Upgraded on-off ramps from Princes Freeway to both towns.
Council says the benefits of these projects would be a reduction by 3500 of the number of vehicles driving through the Drouin CBD each day and by 1300 vehicles a day in the Warragul CBD.
Travel times on Princes Way between Warragul and Drouin would be cut by up to 10 minutes in peak times and there would be less traffic hold-ups at key intersections at Princes WayMain South Rd, Drouin, Warragul off-ramps from Princes Freeway and at Burke St-Howitt St road junction at Warragul.
Many of the comments already submitted to the Facebook page highlight traffic congestion and lack of parking in the central business areas of both Drouin and Warragul.
In its papers advocating the major works needed council acknowledges the community is concerned about the amount of traffic in Warragul and Drouin, "has a plan to do something and wants your (advocacy) help".
"We need the message to be heard," it states.