Big Boost for Safer Roads in the Southern Grampians
Published on 15 April 2025
Southern Grampians Shire Council is celebrating a major funding win, with a $2 million grant awarded by the Victorian Government as part of the Safer Local Roads and Streets Program (SLRSP).
This funding will go directly towards improving key intersections and road safety infrastructure across the Shire—making travel safer for everyone who lives, works and visits the region.
At the 9 April Council meeting, Council committed $100,000 towards the upgrade of the Blackwood-Dunkeld Road intersection—one of the key priorities identified through detailed audits of local roads.
In addition, Council has allocated a further $200,000 in the 2025/26 budget to progress planning and design for secondary road safety projects in the Shire.
Road Safety Assessment (RSA) audits were conducted on all Council managed collector and link roads, from which several locations were shortlisted for potential improvements.
Council conducted an audit on all Collector and Link roads in 2023 which shortlisted locations identified as high risk. This assessment provided invaluable input for Council, DTP and TAC to define the priority safety improvements on the highest-risk local roads, intersections and precincts across the Shire.
Following the advice from these audit results, initial works will include upgrades of the following crossings to raised wombat crossings:
- Shakespeare Street, Macpherson Street, Alexandra Parade and Tyres Street, Hamilton
- French, Kennedy and George Street, Hamilton
Works will also include the construction of a raised intersection at King Street and Bree Road, Hamilton.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the funding was a welcome outcome and directly reflected what the community has been asking for.
“We’ve just wrapped up consultation for our 2025–2029 Council Plan, and one of the strongest messages we received from residents was the need for safer roads,” he said.
“This grant is a testament to the tireless work being done behind the scenes to secure funding that makes a real difference in people’s daily lives.
“Every successful application helps us gain momentum and knowledge so we can continue to bring more investment into our region.”
Works are scheduled to roll out through 2025 and 2026, with planning and design already underway. This includes engaging with schools connected to the crossings identified for upgrades.
To keep up to date with this and other exciting Council projects, consider signing up to our monthly newsletter.
-Ends-