By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council is calling for the duplication of Ballan Road to help reduce “massive congestion” experienced by motorists.
Councillor Mia Shaw suggested the council conduct community consultation on the issue, at a meeting last week (Tuesday, November 30).
Cr Shaw said the feedback would be important to inform council advocacy for the road’s duplication, ahead of next year’s state and federal government elections.
All the other Wyndham councillors voted in favour of Cr Shaw’s idea.
Cr Shaw submitted a written document to the council which stated that Ballan Road has provided access to Wyndham’s west since the 1960s, but the road’s capacity has never been upgraded despite the development of Wyndham Green, Manor Lakes, Bluestone Green and Harpley Estate.
“The local road network is suffering significantly as a result,” the document read.
In 2019, traffic volumes recorded on Ballan Road showed approximately 20,000 vehicle movements per day.
The submission stated that the population of Manor Lakes is set to increase from 9400 residents to 41,455 residents by 2041, a “frightening” concept given that Ballan Road has not been duplicated.
Cr Shaw said that in 2012, the state government released the Wyndham West Precinct Structure Plan Transport Assessment, which stated that Ballan Road and Westbrook Drive would each require four lanes to cater to anticipated 2021 traffic levels.
“We were advised by that traffic modelling report that we would be getting those upgrades to roads and they have never, ever happened,” Cr Shaw said.
Her written submission also revealed the state government “have advised that they have no intention of funding duplication of Ballan Road, even though the Ison Road/Wyndham Westlink network will not solve the traffic congestion in Wyndham’s West alone”.
Cr Adele Hegedich said drivers were spending two hours on the road just to get out of Wyndham Vale on weekdays.
A state government spokesperson said: “We know that the communities in Manor Lakes and Wyndham Vale are growing, and we continue to determine infrastructure requirements that are needed to cater for this growth in the long term.
“Community input is always welcomed, and we’ll continue to work with road safety partners, Victoria Police and the local council in considering any new measures.”
