Coalition's $3MWeebar Rd pledge

by Courtney O'Brien
An elected Liberal and Nationals government will invest $3 million into the long-awaited roundabout at Weebar and Main South Rd in Drouin.
The intersection is at a critical junction that if built would ease congestion, improve traffic safety and unlock 2200 new housing lots in Drouin, alongside infrastructure projects such as schools and sporting facilities.
The funding commitment is part of the Coalition's 25 per cent regional infrastructure guarantee.
The Nationals leader Danny O'Brien, Liberal Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham, Baw Baw Shire mayor Kate Wilson and Liberal candidate for Eastern Victoria Region Matt Green were on site at the Weebar R intersection for Thursday's announcement.
"This is an intersection that has caused issues for a very long time for this community. We know Drouin has significant traffic issues more generally. This is one that we are going to fix," Mr O'Brien said.
"It needs to be able to get the people in and out, and more particularly, it actually unlocks new housing...2000 new housing lots, which are desperately needed in our whole state, but certainly locally here in Baw Baw Shire, where housing is an issue. We need to get more supply into the market," he said.
Mr Farnham said Drouin desperately needed the additional infrastructure and easing of the "absolutely horrific" traffic congestion.
"The intersection of Weebar and Main South Rd, Drouin is critical to ease congestion, improve safety and unlock vital infrastructure projects that the Drouin community so desperately need including schools and sporting facilities.
"I brought up this intersection in Parliament so many times. I've asked time and time again of the government, please invest into this intersection.
"It's a commitment that's desperately needed for the people of Drouin.
"If elected the Liberal and Nationals have a plan to fund, design and construct this critical project," Mr Farnham said.
Cr Wilson said the commitment was welcomed after many years of tireless advocacy for the construction of the roundabout, which was well overdue.
"There's just too much traffic trying to move through here, and we had a series of accidents over a period of time that led to the closure of the road in the bottom here, because the intersection, as it stands, just doesn't work safely with the traffic movement."
"It's a really significant five-way roundabout that will take the place of this intersection.
"It was a significant design, having to have so many access and egress points, and it needed land acquisition as well, so it's needed significant detailed planning, over a long time, with lots of stakeholders and engineers involved," Cr Wilson said.
Cr Wilson said the town's growth was not going to slow down, and the Drouin community needed and welcomed all the investment they could get.