Shire calls for better rural roads

THE Surf Coast Shire has endorsed the overall plan for the region’s roads over the next decade, with one councillor noting that transport links in the hinterland needed particular attention.

Councillors resolved at their October meeting to formally endorse the G21 Region Road Transport Plan 2017-2027.

G21’s Transport Pillar has been working on a regional road transport plan for more than 18 months, and the plan is particularly aimed at attracting state and federal funding.

The plan notes Princes Highway West is the shire’s highest ranked arterial road network, providing connections to Melbourne, Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool; followed by the Surf Coast Highway and Anglesea Road.

Cape Otway Road is the highest ranked local road, as it provides an alternate heavy vehicle route to Colac; followed by Horseshoe Bend Road and Blackgate Road.

The plan also notes 13 road projects that require upgrades. Six of these – Hendy Main Road, Deans Marsh-Lorne Road, Cape Otway Road, Blackgate Road, Forest Road/Greys Road and Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Road – are classified as needing upgrades in the short term.

At the October meeting, Cr Heather Wellington noted that of the 13 identified upgrades, almost all of them were in the shire’s hinterland.

“There’s a continuing challenge for us in trying to maintain the condition of that very large network of roads in the very large hinterland we have.

“I get constant complaints about the condition of roads but also about the passage of trucks through the rural areas of the shire, and in my view, we need to undertake a review of the truck routes and look at a strategy if we can about where the trucks are being distributed, and how we can fairly manage them so the burden of trucks on our communities is mitigated as much as possible.”

Cr Carol McGregor said the plan was about working out the shire’s sustainable transport options.