Council leads State discussion on improved road safety

Published on Thursday, 6 October 2022 at 3:25:05 PM

Dardanup Shire President Mick Bennett speaks with Department of Transport Director General Peter Woronzow at the WALGA AGM.

The Dardanup Shire Council has ignited a state-wide local government advocacy campaign aimed at encouraging the State Government to pay more attention when community concern is raised about accident hotspots.

Dardanup Shire President Mick Bennett put forward a motion at last week’s WA Local Government Association AGM for the organisation to: “Advocate on behalf of the local government sector to the State Government and in particular, Main Roads, to increase importance and weight given to local knowledge and input regarding road traffic issues including requests for speed reduction, intersection treatments and overall preventative and traffic safety measures.”

The motion received wide support.

Cr Bennett said the Shire of Dardanup and its community had experienced a number of instances where preventative action was only taken after fatalities occurred on roads and intersections, despite pleas and requests from the local government, community and stakeholders.

Recent local examples included the following intersections:

  • Hynes Road on Forrest highway, fatalities occurred before safety concerns were addressed and speed limit reduced;
  • Hynes Road on South Western Highway, fatalities occurred before safety concerns were addressed and speed limit reduced;
  • South Western Highway section from Hynes Road westbound to Picton, high number of fatalities occurred before safety concerns were addressed and speed limit reduced;
  • Eaton Drive numerous intersection designs, almost 10 years of traffic studies paid for by the local government as requested by Main Roads which eventually culminated in a treatment plan for all intersection that was agreed to by Main Roads South West, but rejected by Main Roads Perth request further traffic studies delaying action and deferring addressing community and safety concerns.

Advocacy for Main Roads to fund improved road safety initiatives at several Shire traffic intersections is listed in the recently-released Council Plan 2022-32 following extensive community consultation to identify priorities.

Local Roads was listed at #5 in the Top 10 priorities for attention identified by the Shire of Dardanup’s 2021 Community Satisfaction Survey.

Council’s 2022/23 Budget includes a $4.2 million investment in roads, bridges, pathways and drainage upgrades, renewals and maintenance. Projects listed for attention include:

  • Ferguson Road upgrade – Stage 1;
  • Peninsula Lakes intersection upgrade;
  • Pratt Road modification;
  • Glen Huon Boulevard – Eaton Drive intersection upgrade;
  • Pile Road renewal works.

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