Wyndham council will lobby the state government to review the Cottrell Street Ford and the municipality’s transport network resilience and emergency response as part of a $5 million traffic management action plan pledged ahead of last November’s state election.
At the March 28 council meeting, councillors voted to write to Treasurer and Werribee MP Tim Pallas, Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne and Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll to advocate for a network resilience and emergency response review to be included in the transport management plan.
The decision was in response to a notice of motion raised by councillor Heather Marcus last October, calling for a report assessing options for an alternative Werribee River crossing to alleviate
traffic congestion in Werribee when the Cottrell Street Ford is closed due to flooding.
The motion followed the closure of the ford crossing being closed six times within a three month period last year, creating extensive traffic congestion. Prior to 2022, the crossing had been closed half a dozen times over 10 years.
Cottrell Street Ford is one of only four Werribee River crossings, with three more planned (Armstrong Road extension from Ballan Road to Sayers Road, Ison Road and Outer Metropolitan Ring Transport Corridor).
Last week, councillors also voted to review and enhance council’s flood response plan to minimise disruption by identifying traffic management and detour improvements that can be readily triggered during flood closure events; progress planning for the Armstrong Road extension; and defer consideration of a bridge to replace Cottrell Street Ford until after completion of the traffic management plan.
Cr Jennie Barrera said it was important Wyndham’s transport network resilience and emergency response was reviewed to address congestion issues.
“Our city is the fastest growing in the country and as such our transport network is under strain. During events such as floods and emergencies, congestion is amplified and it is near impossible to move,“ she said.
“The Cottrell Street Ford had to be closed numerous times over the spring due to the flooding of the Werribee River and this had a significant impact on our community, not only for motorists but also for pedestrians, cyclists and buses. Put simply, it highlighted the gaps in network resilience in Wyndham.“
Cr Marcel Mahfoud said it made sense to defer replacing Cottrell Street Ford until after the traffic management plan is complete.
“It isn’t an easy fix. It is an old bridge and antiquated crossing,“ he said.
“It is going to be an expensive exercise, an expensive crossing to fix.“
