By Aneeka Simonis
OPPOSITION leader Matthew Guy has called on the State Government to “come to the party” in funding urgent safety upgrades at Healesville-Kooweerup Road.
“There needs to be an urgent investment of funds to ensure safety along this section of the road. It’s not going to get any better … it’s only going to get worse as Victoria’s share of tourism rises hugely. We are seeing more and more tourists using this road, and it’s only making it more dangerous.”
Mr Guy made the call on Monday 5 August while standing roadside with David Downs, father of Ryan Downs who lost his life on the road in May.
He suggested the government use funds from the Port of Melbourne lease to carry out urgent short-term safety upgrade, as well as make applications to the Federal Government to get the ball rolling on the long-term road duplication project.
“They need to approach the Federal Government fairly quickly,” he said.
The Gazette contacted the office for Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan for a comment, but did not receive a response before deadline.
In late June, he told the Gazette he would continue to work with the community and road safety partners to improve safety on the road.
Bass MP Brian Paynter was under no illusion the road duplication was necessary, but said the current focus needs to be on funding achievable changes to ensure motorists’ short-term safety.
“It’s really up to VicRoads to come up with short term solutions for the safety of road, and State Government together with local government and the Federal Government have to to come up with a long-term solution in duplicating the road,” he said.
“That’s the ultimate goal here but the immediate task at hand is having the safety of the road improved.”
A petition launched by Ryan Downs’ family to fix the road has attracted 525 signatures.
Dozens of local residents and motorists concerned with the safety of the road turned up to a community consultation with VicRoads in Kooweerup on Thursday 1 September.
Attendees were advised to make their concerns known to Federal Member for McMillian Russel Broadbent and Federal Member for Flinders Greg Hunt.
Mr Broadbent earlier told the Gazette he would be happy to take any petition to Canberra that “champions the cause for safer roads in the region”.
