The government has selected the first eleven local governments to receive funding to develop, design and plan road safety improvements along council-managed roads, intersections and precincts and Yarra Ranges has not made the list.
Minister for Roads and Roads Safety Melissa Horne announced the local governments will take part in the first stage of the government’s $210 million safe local roads and streets program.
“Our Safe Local Roads and Streets Program is fostering new relationships between local governments and the Department of Transport and Planning and Transport Accident Commission, so they have the tools in place to deliver the safety improvements needed to reduce road trauma on local roads,” she said.
Those chosen to take part across metropolitan Melbourne were Brimbank, Monash, Casey, Yarra and Melton, and in regional Victoria – Moira, Baw Baw, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Murrindindi and Surf Coast.
Councils will work closely with the Department of Transport and Planning and Transport Accident Commission over four-years to identify, plan, develop and deliver more road safety upgrades on local roads across Victoria.
Local government authorities own and operate 87 per cent of Victoria’s road network and around 33 per cent of road trauma happens on local council-managed roads each year.
The $210 million package will design and deliver safety upgrades for communities including raised crossings, intersection upgrades, speed cushions, kerbing upgrades, pedestrian islands, safer speeds, roundabouts and other vital safety improvements.
Around 132,000km of Victoria’s road network is made up of local roads, making up 87 per cent. Of the 179 fatalities this year, 90 have occurred on local roads.
A safer local roads and streets reference group will also be established to support the development of the planning framework, investment guidelines, tools and resources that will support local governments.
All Victorian local governments will be progressively introduced to the program from late-2023, based on information from the initial expressions of interest process and councils’ willingness to participate in the program.
The program supports the government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which aims to halve road deaths and reduce serious injuries by 2030 and eliminate road deaths by 2050.
Head of Road Safety Victoria Marcelo Vidales said everyone has a role to play when it comes to road safety.
“This is why we are working with councils across the state to support them in developing and building important safety upgrades to reduce road trauma and save lives on local roads.”
