Almost every minute of the day, there is a heavy vehicle travelling along the Sturt Highway through Mildura.
We are seeing more and more B-Doubles and B-Triples rumbling down Deakin Avenue rather than using Benetook Avenue, which trucking industry insiders described as a “chicane” due to the roundabouts.
Truck drivers are left with no choice but to use Deakin Avenue as a direct and efficient route. I have been pushing the Victorian Labor Government for solutions – including a letter to Victorian Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne.
Minister Horne recently responded, highlighting a speed reduction on Deakin Avenue west of the Sixteenth Street intersection, implemented last year.
That’s a short term approach that still doesn’t resolve the problem. Trucks continue to go up and down Deakin Avenue through school zones, residential areas, local eateries and Mildura’s CBD. Changing a speed limit sign doesn’t resolve the long-term problem.
With my Victorian Nationals colleague Jade Benham, on Thursday I hosted a round table meeting with local government and transport industry stakeholders.
More meetings are planned to drive a united, strategic vision for Mildura and Sunraysia and develop robust solutions for north-west Victorian freight movements through road and rail improvements.
We must reduce heavy traffic on Deakin Avenue, streamline freight movement around Sunraysia, move as much freight as possible onto rail and create safer and more efficient connections with neighbouring states.
Mildura’s main thoroughfare, civic and commercial centre, where locals and visitors live and play, needs to be protected. The 13,400 daily drivers (2018), pedestrians, school families and cyclists, need a safer Deakin Avenue, while reducing maintenance costs.
The people of Mildura and surrounding areas need a show of strength backing safer roads and a new transport strategy for Sunraysia.
I am calling on all residents to sign a petition to show their support at https://forms.gle/XeE8SMnm639BAGmh8
