Brimbank council is calling for all hands on decks at it once again rallies for both the federal and state governments to ‘Fix the Calder’.
Council will host a community event on Saturday, April 20, at Overnewton Gatehouse Hall, Keilor, from 9.30am to launch a new advocacy brochure on ‘Improving the Calder Highway’.
Council said the Calder is one of Australia’s most dangerous roads and safety upgrades are “urgently needed.”
The brochure has been produced by the Calder Highway Improvement Committee (CHIC), which consists of the councils of Brimbank, Buloke Shire, Greater Bendigo, Hume, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire, Melton, Mildura, and Mount Alexander Shire. The brochure outlines CHIC’s priorities for improving safety on the Calder Highway.
Since Brimbank council first launched the Fix the Calder campaign in April 2021, the state government has made a range of announcements including, a $50 million investment for minor upgrades, planning and investigative works, the level crossing removal at Calder Park Drive, due for completion in 2025, and a now completed business case to investigate a diamond interchange at Calder Park Drive.
Council said while these are important and welcome first steps, there is still “a long way to go.”
Council has expressed it’s dissapointment with the federal government’s decision to withdraw the $50 million promised by the previous government, noting that it was only a “fraction” of what is required.
Brimbank council is now calling on the federal government to reassess the project and provide adequate funding to make the Calder safe. It is also calling on the state government to increase its $50m funding commitment and release the findings and recommendations of the Calder Park Drive Interchange business case.
Council said works are needed to upgrade the Calder Freeway between the Western Ring Road (M80) and the Melton Highway to bring it up to freeway standard, add lanes from Keilor Park Drive to Melton Highway, widen the Maribyrnong River Bridge, build a full diamond interchange at the intersection of the Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive and duplicate Calder Park Drive between the Calder Freeway and Melton Highway.
Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic said she encourages everyone who uses the Calder Highway to support council’s call for urgent action by state and federal governments.
“Attend the community event to learn more about the call to fix this dangerous road and how you can support the campaign.
“The Calder Highway is a dangerous road that can no longer wait for upgrades. The community desperately needs this road fixed, and we need it fixed now.”
Details: fixthecalder.brimbank.vic.gov.au
