Thursday, 23 February 2023

Warragul and Drouin traffic congestion

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (17:45): (68) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and addresses the critical issue of arterial road networks in the towns of Warragul and Drouin. The residents and businesses of these towns have been urging the council to address the issues of traffic and congestion for the past decade, and it is time for the government to take action. As the minister for infrastructure, it is your responsibility to ensure that state road networks are efficient and able to meet the demands of the growing population. However, the current arterial system in Warragul and Drouin is unable to cope with the current congestion and growth, which places a significant burden on residents and businesses around the town. The projected construction of almost 20,000 homes in the next few years will result in even more use of the roads, and the government investment in roads is not keeping up to handle the current volume, let alone the future volume. Furthermore, growing demand for Gippsland’s agriculture products and resources, combined with inefficient freight routes, is contributing to the road congestion and the disproportionate numbers of heavy vehicles in town centres. Without action, the existing congestion will only worsen, leading to further delays and economic losses.

Road planning is essential to safeguarding to key transport routes and mitigating the impacts of road closures in the event of natural disasters. Failure to plan adequately for further growth and emergencies will result in unnecessary disruption to the lives and livelihoods of people in these towns. Economic modelling indicates arterial congestion is a major factor hindering commercial growth in our major towns, and current networks are simply inadequate to meet the demands of a growing population. It is imperative that we plan and invest in the necessary infrastructure to meet the current and future needs of these communities. The action that I seek is that the minister take immediate action to address the issues of traffic and congestion in Warragul and Drouin.