A roundtable discussion with interested groups, including the transport industry, is the way to prioritise road funding projects in the south-west, according to a state election candidate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
South West Coast seat Country Party candidate and former Moyne shire Mayor, Jim Doukas, also advocated for a truck bypass around Warrnambool.
The Great South Coast Group – comprising Warrnambool, Corangamite, Moyne, Glenelg and Southern Grampian councils – called for a dual highway west of Colac to the South Australian border as part of its priority list in the lead-up to Saturday’s state election.
Mr Doukas said a study had not been done and the restricted speed zones were being stretched across built-up areas along the Princes Highway through the south-west.
"It's hard for truckies. We need to find out what suits the transport industry. Trucks are the issue," he said.
"If they get held up for five minutes per town, they have log book restrictions and can finish up struck in the middle of the highway having to pull over.
"We need to have a proper roundtable discussion to see where we go with roads."
Mr Doukas said her personal preference was to have a truck bypass around Warrnambool.
He said there also needed to be a connection to Mortlake and the Hamilton Highway through to Geelong.
"We need to find a new way to get through this part of Victoria. Trucks are held up with traffic, discussion may lead to a better outcome. Planning can only end in better results," he said.
"We need to sit down with all concerned and come up with something to work for next 50 years," he said.
