The Allan Labor Government is not only continuing to roll out speed limit reductions instead of fixing our roads, but is now also failing to notify affected communities.
Locals were outraged this week when signs appeared on the Ararat-Halls Gap Road between Moyston and Ararat reducing the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h, without any community consultation.
The Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said Labor’s justification of changing the limit because “managing limits is key to bringing down the number of lives lost on our roads” completed ignored the real key issue.
“Anyone who drives on our roads knows that the road surfaces are terrible, even on our major transport routes like the Western Highway. For Labor to continue to lower speed limits without fixing the real problem is negligent and an insult to our communities,” she said.
“What’s worse is that people who use this road found out about the decision to lower the limit on social media. They weren’t consulted about whether a speed limit reduction was necessary or the best course of action, just told that it’s happening.
“Why not fix the real problem and upgrade the Western Highway – which I have stood with locals in calling for over many years – and make it safe?
“Locals have previously noted that Ararat-Halls Gap Road should not be used as a Western Highway alternate route because regular heavy traffic is destroying the road surface, but Labor hasn’t listened.
“It’s just another example in a long line of decisions that Labor has inflicted on our communities without giving them a voice.
“It’s absolutely wrong for locals to have limited access to safe roads when it’s a problem caused by Labor’s failure to invest in roads and make them safe.”
