Tara Murray
Brimbank council will continue to engage with the Transport Accident Commission around potential opportunities to help make the Calder Freeway safer.
Former Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic recently met with TAC chief Joe Calafiore and TAC head of road safety Samantha Cockfield to discuss road safety priorities for Brimbank and Victoria.
The discussions centred around road safety priorities such as the common interest in pushing towards a zero road toll, and the council’s ongoing work to fix the Calder Freeway, which has been identified as one of Victoria’s most dangerous roads.
Brimbank’s Fix the Calder campaign calls on the state and federal governments to invest in major upgrades that will improve safety on the Calder, reduce congestion and provide better access and connections to cater for population and freight growth.
The both governments have committed $50 million each to the project, with planning for a new diamond interchange at the Calder Freeway at Calder Park Drive already underway.
The state government has also pledged to remove the Calder Park Drive level crossing.
The council though is calling for significantly more funding that will be required to help achieve the full scope of works needed.
The TAC also briefed the council on its current strategic priorities such as the Victorian road safety strategy 2021-2030 and the Towards Zero 2016-2020 road safety strategy, as well as on other road safety matters, programs and initiatives for the Brimbank area.
Councillor Ranka Rasic said the council will look to work with the TAC in any way they can.
“I’m pleased to have had productive discussions with the Transport Accident Commission, including an opportunity to update the TAC on council’s ongoing drive to fix the Calder Freeway, and to learn more of its strategies to improve road safety.
“I’m pleased to say TAC was supportive of our call to ‘Fix the Calder’ and council will continue to engage with the TAC around potential opportunities to help make this stretch of road safer.
“Council looks forward to working closely with TAC on any opportunities to align efforts around improving safety along the Calder and other areas, for our community.”
