Shire checks progress on road safety actions

THE Surf Coast Shire will seek funding for several infrastructure projects as part of its Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2027.

Councillors reviewed a progress report on year two of the plan at their meeting last week.

According to the report, key actions delivered in the 2024-2025 financial year include upgrades to Erskine Falls Road, Lorne, to reduce driver distraction; new cycling infrastructure on The Esplanade and Fischer Street, Torquay, linking central and north Torquay with safe and accessible walking and cycling routes; pedestrian crossings installed in Anglesea and Bellbrae; and the start of speed reviews in Connewarre, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Fairhaven and Moggs Creek.

The report recognises the unique road safety challenges faced in the Surf Coast Shire, including a high number of international tourists and rapid population growth.

“One death on our roads is one death too many,” Cr Joel Grist said.

“As the population grows and traffic increases, it’s encouraging to see safer walking and cycling routes being delivered.”

Shire officers will prepare applications for grant funding through the 2026-2027 federal Black Spot Program, seeking upgrades to priority roads. These include:

Horseshoe Bend Road from The Esplanade to Lower Duneed Road – safe cycling/pedestrian connection from Torquay to Geelong

Torquay town centre area wide treatment (east of Surf Coast Highway) – safer access for all transport modes from Darian Road to Bell Street, 40kph area wide treatment with local area traffic management

Anglesea town centre area wide treatment – 40kph area wide treatment with local area traffic management on Camp Road and surrounding streets

Cape Otway Road, Buckley Road to Mathisons Road – new barriers and line marking to reduce serious injury crash risks, and

Torquay West urban fringe, (Coombes Road, Grossmans Road, Messmate Road and Duffields Road) – a range of treatments including line marking, green cycle lane paint, signage and raised gateway treatments to support safer speeds between the rural and urban road environment.

Adopted by the council in November 2022, the five-year Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan sets ambitious targets to reduce fatalities on Surf Coast roads by 50 per cent by 2030 and to reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent by 2030, in line with state and federal road safety targets.

“These upgrades are making a real difference in helping people move safely, no matter how they travel,” Cr Grist said.

“Our goal is ambitious, but it needs to be. It takes a consistent effort to reach these targets, but it’s a target we can achieve together.”