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Council warmly welcomes the Australian Government’s $206,000 investment in a safer Warrnambool via the Black Spot Program.
Our application to upgrade the Queens/Botanic roundabout was one of 57 projects across Australia to successfully secure funding via the program this financial year.
The upgrade will include a larger roundabout to help slow traffic as well as larger traffic islands, speed cushions, lighting upgrades and sharrows on approaches.
Warrnambool Mayor Cr Debbie Arnott said that the upgrade was identified as one of the top priorities in the Botanic Precinct Local Area Traffic Management Plan adopted by Council last year.
Significant community input was sought in creating the plan, which outlines a range of safety improvements to be considered over the next decade.
“We have four school campuses and a hospital within this precinct so it’s very important to have great traffic management for everyone’s safety,” Cr Arnott said.
“This is a very busy thoroughfare with traffic and with so many school children in the vicinity, this is a wonderful announcement.”
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown and Victorian Government Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne made the joint announcement last Friday.
“I am thrilled to announce these latest 57 Black Spot projects across Victoria, and thank the local communities for putting them forward for nomination,” Senator Brown said.
“We are continuing to provide $110 million per year under the Black Spot Program to work with state, territory and local governments to improve road safety across Australia.
“We are committed to keeping Australians safe on our roads. These 57 new projects in Victoria will improve safety, benefit our communities and reduce road trauma.”
Victorian Government Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne applauded the investment.
“We welcome this significant investment as a key part of making sure our roads are safer for all road users. It will allow us to provide key road safety upgrades across our state,” she said.
“The Black Spot Program strongly aligns with Victoria’s road safety strategy and will help us achieve our goal of zero lives lost on Victorian roads by 2050.”
Following the announcement last Friday, detailed design work can now commence.