10 November 2015 –
Murray Valley Highway–Warren Street Echuca
Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) – The matter I raise in the adjournment debate is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. It refers to the intersection of the Murray Valley Highway and Warren Street in Echuca. This is a very important intersection leading into the town of Echuca and on through Moama into New South Wales but it is also important for the local area there. There is a substantial aged-care development – Cunningham Downs Village and Wharparilla Lodge – and also some major subdivisions happening at that particular intersection. It is effectively a combination of three dangerous Y-intersections on a large sweeping bend of the Murray Valley Highway. This particular intersection has had a number of accidents over the last five years four of which have involved 11 people. We have been very fortunate that there has not actually been a fatality at that intersection.
On 11 June this year I brought a deputation from the Shire of Campaspe including the mayor down to meet with the minister. The minister made a commitment at that time to respond back to the shire about where the works for a new roundabout were up to. So the action I seek is: I want a response from the minister for the delegation that came here on 11 June.
Last year in August the then Deputy Premier and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan was in Echuca and announced the funding for that roundabout as early works for the Echuca Bridge. When that announcement was made VicRoads regional director Mel Kersting said that plans were basically complete work for that roundabout should have started in early 2015 and it would take 12 to 14 months to complete. Obviously those works have not started.
As I said the action I seek from the minister now following the delegation of 11 June is information from him back to the council as to when that particular work will start in the future. It is as I said a very dangerous intersection. A number of accidents have happened. The community is very keen that that work be done to stop the risk of a fatality in the future and I seek a response from the minister to the Shire of Campaspe.