Eleven more local councils will receive funding from the Victorian Government to improve road safety infrastructure as part of the most recent round of the Safer Local Roads and Streets Program.
The $210 million program provides support to Victorian councils in order to deliver upgrades on the highest risk local roads, intersections and precincts by 2027 – with allocations of up to $2 million issued for priority road safety projects.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said the investment was particularly timely given the worrying increase in the nation’s road toll over the past year.
“Last year we saw a devastating year on our roads both in Victoria and nationally and we need to do everything we can to drive down road trauma,” Minister Horne said.
“We’re working alongside councils to deliver important road safety infrastructure on local roads today, so our communities are safer into the future.”
The councils selected for the second round of engagement are East Gippsland, Gannawarra, Greater Geelong, Greater Shepparton, Loddon, Mansfield, Mildura, Moorabool, Stonnington, Swan Hill and Wyndham. The program will be delivered over seven rounds, allowing all councils in the state to engage with the program by 2025.
Funding is designed to deliver safer infrastructure upgrades for communities including raised crossings, intersection upgrades, speed cushions, safer speeds, roundabouts, and other vital safety improvements.
The first 11 local governments began engaging with the program in September 2023, and have worked closely with the Department of Transport and Planning and Transport Accident Commission to plan and deliver safety upgrades.