By Jena Carr
Surf Coast residents can look forward to safer roads as the council receives funding to develop, design and plan road safety improvements.
Surf Coast Shire Council was among 11 local governments participating in the first stage of the state government’s $210 million Safe Local Roads and Streets Program.
Place Making and Environment general manager Chris Pike said council was “excited” to be selected for the program that will improve the safety of the Shire’s roads, intersections and precincts.
“We look forward to finding out more about the program, including the level of funding available, and how it can help make our roads safer for everyone,” he said.
“We plan to work closely with the Transport Accident Commission to develop road safety improvement projects at known high risk locations across our local road network.”
Council will work closely with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) for four years to deliver safer roads across the Shire.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said fostering “new relationships” between councils, the DTP, and the TAC was important.
“This way they have the tools in place to deliver the safety improvements needed to reduce road trauma on local roads,” she said.
Close to 132,000km of the state’s road network comprises local roads, with 90 of this year’s 179 fatalities occurring on local roads.
TAC chief executive Tracey Slatter said all the state’s local governments would be introduced to the program later this year, and everyone had a role to play in the safety of Victoria’s roads.
“Councils play a crucial role in identifying their region’s road safety needs and this program will allow us to work together with councils to design and build safer roads for their communities,” she said.
