Lobbying to remove roadblocks

Removing the “choke points” within Warragul and Drouin’s road networks is the key to easing traffic congestion, according to Baw Baw Shire mayor Michael Leaney.

Addressing an online community forum last week, Cr Leaney encouraged community members to support council’s lobbying efforts to remove major roadblocks in the two major towns.

Council is seeking $3 million from the State Government to allow Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) to undertake design work to address deficiencies of the state-managed roads that run through Drouin and Warragul.

“Removing the choke points is really important in developing alternative routes.

“We need to get this planning work done before the 15 minute delays we are having now become 30 to 40 minute delays,” he said.

Council is seeking community and industry support in lobbying the government to allocate $3 million in next month’s state budget.

The aim is to minimise heavy vehicles from town centres and make travelling within Drouin and Warragul safer and more convenient for residents, while providing more efficient transport routes for business and industry.

Livestock transport safety advocate Mick Debenham also addressed the forum, saying the heavy vehicle industry fully supported council’s lobbying efforts.

He said it wasn’t as simple as removing heavy vehicles from town areas.

“Trucks normally would use the easiest route but the reality is trucks do need to enter towns. Trying to force them to use other routes doesn’t often take into consideration that sometimes trucks need to get into towns,” he said.

Council’s community infrastructure director Cohen Van der Velde said manufacturing, agri business and innovative food processing were significant industries in the Baw Baw economy and they relied on a modern, fit-for-purpose road network to get their products to markets.

“Our arterial roads are essential to this network that supports the supply chain of these industries. But the road network was laid out 100 years ago,” he said.

Mr Van der Velde said conflict between the movement of freight and retail centres had developed with significant growth in Warragul and Drouin.

Compounding the current issue, he said population forecasts indicated traffic volumes could triple in the next 15 years along Princes Way between the two towns.

“The solution is a new arterial road network that’s better for local business and the community,” he said.

Possible solutions to be considered in the planning include:

· Drouin (western) bypass

· Drouin (eastern) bypass

· Duplication of Princes Way between Warragul and Drouin

· Improved intersections at Princes Way-Wellwood Rd, Drouin and Howitt St-Burke St, Warragul

· Buln Buln Rd interchange

· Dollarburn Rd extension (Warragul bypass) Mr Van der Velde said these solutions would ultimately reduce travel times and reduce the number of vehicles travelling through Warragul and Drouin central business districts.

He said the solutions would drive investment and help with movement of freight and people. He said no routes had been determined and that would be part of the planning process.

“Ultimately the congestion being felt is on the arterial road network,” Mr Van der Velde said, which were not council roads.

Mr Van der Velde urged the community to support council’s advocacy. “The voice of the community holds so much weight.”

Community members can write letters of support for council’s bid for Warragul and Drouin bypass solutions. A template letter is on council’s website.

Easter deadlines

The Gazette office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday. The classified ad deadline for next week’s Gazette is this Thursday at 5pm.

Next week’s Gazette will be published as normal on Tuesday, April 19.