BUILD ROADS NOT BARRIERS
Over fifty concerned Allansford residents, led by local dairy farmer Mick Mahony, attended a public meeting today concerning the installation of wire rope barriers on the Princes Highway. Member for Western Victoria Region, Bev McArthur heard from aggrieved community members, none of whom support this waste of taxpayers' money.
The Transport Accident Commission has recently informed property owners that wire rope barriers will be installed on the Princes Highway over two sections:
in the median strip of the dual carriageway section between Deakin University and Allansford; and
in the centre of a the road on a single carriageway section between Allansford and Panmure.
In 1972, good farming land was compulsory acquired and unwillingly sold to enable the construction of a dual highway between Allansford and Panmure. This is the obvious solution to any road safety concerns in this section of the Princes Highway.
Mayor of Warrnambool City Council, Cr Tony Herbert and Moyne Shire Cr Jim Doukas were also in attendance, and expressed the two Councils’ opposition to the wire rope barrier installation.
Quotes attributable to Bev McArthur MP:
“The local community, particularly farmers and transport operators, are extremely angry about the installation of wire rope barriers, especially down the centre of a single carriageway.”
"Everyone agreed the only solution to ensure safety on this section of the Princes Highway is for the duplication of this road, as was originally promised when land was compulsorily acquired in 1972. Residents don’t want hardworking taxpayers’ dollars wasted on a stop-gap, short-term measures, which will cause considerable inconvenience to local farmers, transport operators and indeed, all motorists.”
"The resounding plea to the Andrews' government from the local community is to build roads, not barriers."
ENDS
19 December 2019
