Mayoral Matters | June 13, 2025

Published on 13 June 2025

I am calling for urgent action regarding the prolonged delays in the duplication of the Western Highway between Ararat and Stawell, following yet another tragic accident on this critical regional transport corridor.

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a devastating multi-vehicle collision near Armstrong claimed the lives of three people. The collision involved two cars, a B-double truck, and two smaller trucks. The incident has reignited community concern over the safety of this unduplicated stretch of road following a string of tragic accidents.

Council is deeply concerned that the continued delays are putting lives at risk and undermining the safety of residents, freight operators, and visitors who rely on this vital corridor.

Despite the Western Highway being a key freight and passenger route between Melbourne and Adelaide, the Ararat to Stawell section remains in the planning phase, with no confirmed construction timeline.

To date, the highway between Ballarat and Buangor has been duplicated since the project began in 2013. While works between Buangor and Ararat are on hold, the Ararat to Stawell section has seen no physical progress, despite years of advocacy and planning.

In the April 2019 Federal Budget, the Commonwealth Government committed $360 million to the duplication of the Western Highway between Ararat and Stawell. Of this, $13.1 million has been released to update the business case. These works are currently underway, including reviews of previous VicRoads studies, technical designs, and approvals to meet current standards.

Council is now calling on the Victorian Government to prioritise the completion of the duplication, including a bypass of Great Western.

With limited public transport options, residents and businesses in the Wimmera-southern Mallee are heavily dependent on the Western Highway. This is the busiest road transport corridor in our region and the third-busiest interstate freight route in Australia. Its duplication is not just a regional priority – it’s a national one.

Council urges both state and federal governments to work together to deliver this long-overdue infrastructure. The community cannot afford further delays.