Thursday 24 April 2025

The Allan Labor Government is helping councils across Victoria address road safety concerns in their communities, with 38 local government authorities sharing in more than $2.5 million worth of grants.

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes has announced the recipients of the latest round of the Transport Accident Commission’s (TAC) Local Government Grant Program (LGGP).

Benalla Rural Shire Council will receive funding for council’s 2025-2030 Road Safety Strategy which will be developed on the four pillars of the Safe System and will provide alignment through Local Community and stakeholder engagement and addressing common road problems in Benalla.

Funding will also be allocated to the Active Transport Project 2025-2030 which will prioritise raised pedestrian crossings, addressing high-risk intersections, designing shared paths and off-road trails, proposing speed limit adjustments, and developing concept designs for key local connectors and facilities to improve active transport safety and connectivity in Benalla Rural City.

Alpine Shire Council will receive funding to assess current and future safety issues on Back Porepunkah Road by reviewing traffic data, infrastructure, and strategic planning, and will propose Safe System-aligned improvements with a prioritised action plan and community engagement.

Moira Shire Council will receive funding to construct a raised intersection at Hume Street and Sturt Street in Cobram to reduce traffic speeds to 30 km/h, enhancing safety for pedestrians, particularly students from Cobram and District Specialist School.

Greater Shepparton City Council will receive funding to purchase a Variable Message Trailer with radar technology to help promote safe speeds in Shepparton by displaying real-time vehicle speeds, encouraging adherence to limits, and raising awareness of safe driving.

Indigo Shire Council will receive funding to replace the central refuge island on Bernard Street, Barnawartha, with a raised wombat crossing, enhancing pedestrian safety and reducing vehicle speeds to below 30 km/h.

Funding will also be allocated to enhance safety on Rutherglen's High Street by conducting analysis and developing concepts for infrastructure improvements, aligning with Safe System principles to support a future speed limit reduction and ensure the safety of increasing numbers of pedestrians, wheelchair users, and cyclists.

Mildura Rural City Council will receive funding to develop a plan for Ouyen township to link footpaths and cycle-ways to key facilities to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety through improved infrastructure and local area traffic management, in alignment with the Ouyen Community Plan 2020-2025.

Murrindindi Shire Council will receive funding to improve High Street and nearby high-traffic pedestrian areas in Yea. The project aims to enhance road safety, reduce traffic speeds, improve crossings, increase visibility, and encourage walkability, thereby boosting pedestrian safety and town vitality.

The LGGP provides funding to projects that help prevent road trauma, particularly among pedestrians and cyclists – the most vulnerable road users.

Last year, 48 pedestrians and 12 cyclists lost their lives on the state’s roads, in 2023-24, 556 pedestrians and 401 cyclists were hospitalised as the result of a road accident.

All funded projects have adopted one of the four focus areas of the ‘Safe System’ approach to road safety: safe roads and roadsides, vehicle safety, safe travel speeds and safe road users.

The 2025 TAC Local Government Grant Program will open for applications in mid-June 2025.

For a full list of grant recipients and details on this year’s program, visit the TAC website: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/community/grants/local-government-grants

Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“I am pleased to see these safer road initiatives that will address localised road safety challenges in Northern Victoria.”