VicRoads tight lipped over $51m highway delay

VICROADS is refusing to say why the proposed $51 million realignment of the South Gippsland Highway between Koonwarra and Meeniyan has been delayed by at least a year.

The delay is costing businesses time and money by hindering the transport industry and risking lives on the notorious Black Spur bends.

Over the past five years there have been at least 13 reported accidents, some involving truck rollovers. Those accidents impacted 32 people and resulted in four serious injuries.

VicRoads’ Gippsland office was due to submit a business case for the works to VicRoads’ head office in December 2015.

But that business case will now not be ready until at least late this year and the authority is refusing to say why.

That business case would have been assessed against other projects from around Victoria for funding.

South Gippsland Shire Council mayor Cr Bob Newton said the State Government needed to overlook the fact the area was tightly held by the Nationals and back the project.

“They (VicRoads) have not got any money. That is the problem and they have not been allocated any by the State Government because it is not a Labor held seat,” he said.

“They have been procrastinating with the Koonwarra bends for a long time. There has been that much work that has been done on it and they are just hanging fire on it.”
Cr Newton said the realignment was a council priority project that council would continue to pursue.

“They are just not spending that much money on the roads around here,” he said.

Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien called on the State Government to get on with the project.

“I raised it with the minister in October and said this is an important project and that it needs to be funded in the next budget,” he said.

“I was surprised to receive a response in early December to say VicRoads was still finalising the business case. I understood the business case was done and it now needs to go to the government for consideration in the next state budget.

“We funded the business case in our last year in government and it needs to be finished.

“It is now time the government got on with the job, put its shoulder to the wheel and provided the funding in the next state budget.”

The Star made numerous requests VicRoads to determine why the business case had been delayed but was repeatedly denied an answer.

Instead, VicRoads regional director Scott Lawrence supplied the following statement, which overlooked the delay all together.

“VicRoads recognises the South Gippsland Highway is a major strategic link in Victoria’s rural road network. It is the main route to ports and markets for vital industries located in South Gippsland, including agriculture, dairy, oil and gas,” he said.
“VicRoads is continuing to engage with stakeholders and the community as part of the preparation of a business case which is expected to be completed by late 2016.
“The business case will consider safety, economic and social benefits with the cost of construction in order to provide the best opportunity for a successful outcome for the community.”
The Black Spur realignment is listed as a high priority in the Gippsland Regional Plan released recently, along with other upgrades along the South Gippsland Highway to benefit freight.

The plan also recommends further overtaking lanes and bridge widening along the Strzelecki Highway, and access and safety improvements along Phillip Island Road.

The Gippsland Regional Plan is a partnership of the Gippsland Local Government Network of shire councils, Regional Develop Australia Gippsland, Committee for Gippsland, Regional Management Forum and GRP Leadership Group.

Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan said the government was aware of the proposed realignment of the Black Spur section.
“A business case is currently being developed by VicRoads which will consider the cost of construction and safety, and overall economic and social benefits. This case will be submitted to government for future consideration,” he said.

Still waiting: Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien is calling on the State Government to fund the $51 million realignment of the South Gippsland Highway between Koonwarra and Meeniyan, known as the Black Spur bends.

Short URL: /?p=17565

Posted by Tayla Kershaw on Feb 9 2016. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry