Colac Otway welcome federal recognition, Princes Highway’s importance

Published on 26 July 2020

Colac Otway Shire’s Mayor hopes the Federal Government’s recognition of the critical importance of Princes Highway as a key national freight link will lead to significant funding and safety improvements in the near future.

Mayor Cr Jason Schram said Colac Otway Shire, as part of the Princes Highway West Alliance, has been advocating to the Federal Government to have the Princes Highway from Colac to the South Australian border added to the National Land Transport Network.

“We welcome the Federal Government’s decision to recognise the national importance of the highway as a key freight link to the Victorian and National economies and urge both State and Federal Governments to commit to funding urgent improvements. 

“Our community travels the highway, trucks carrying vital freight across the state travel the highway and visitors to our region travel the highway.

“Colac Otway Shire has been campaigning for several years to make the Princes Highway west of Colac safer for every road user.

“It’s been positive to see some improvements underway, particularly at the Blue Church corner, but there is much more work needed.

“We have seen the value of duplicating the Princes Highway from Melbourne through Colac and now we are a step closer to seeing the significant investment needed from Colac to the border,” Cr Schram said.

“The Federal Government’s recognition of this section of highway’s significant role as a major national freight route is fantastic news.”