Thursday, 18 June 2026

 Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (03:54): (2614) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the action I seek is for an urgent safety audit of the intersection of the Midland Highway, A300, and Girgarre-Rushworth Road, C348, in Stanhope. This intersection is a major junction connecting local residents, farmers, freight operators and visitors travelling the region. Situated alongside the Fonterra milk factory, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with numerous tanker trucks coming and going, the safety of this intersection is of the utmost importance. Constituents have raised ongoing concerns regarding safety at this location, particularly the risks associated with traffic entering and crossing the Midland Highway. On Saturday 6 June 2026 there was a horrific accident where a woman lost her life and two others were injured in a two-car collision at the intersection when a ute travelling north on the Girgarre-Rushworth Road collided with a car travelling along the Midland Highway. On 31 March a vehicle travelling north on Girgarre-Rushworth Road collided with a truck travelling along the Midland Highway. On 25 March 2024 a single-vehicle crash occurred on Girgarre-Rushworth Road near the Midland Highway, where a car left the road, hit a tree and caught fire, resulting in a fatality. This intersection is clearly dangerous and in need of an upgrade. Three serious accidents in three years is completely unacceptable, and something needs to be done without delay. Minister, the action I seek is for an urgent safety audit of the intersection of the Midland Highway and Girgarre-Rushworth Road in Stanhope.