Thursday, 2 November 2023

Black Forest Drive

Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (17:33): (573) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and it concerns the government’s announcement of its plan to reduce the number of lanes on Black Forest Drive between Woodend and Macedon from two lanes to one lane in each direction. The action that I seek is for the minister to immediately abandon the current plans and to go back and conduct genuine and honest consultation on safety improvements to this section of road.

Changes to Black Forest Drive have been going on for around 15 years. Around 2010 the then Labor government decided to reduce the lanes on this road from two lanes to one lane in each direction, and bike lanes were installed on the road. Successful advocacy from the local community resulted in the Baillieu government returning the road to a two-lane-each-way configuration without bike lanes. In 2018 these debates began again, and consultation was undertaken in 2021. A summary of that consultation published in 2022 clearly sets out the community’s objection to any reduction in lanes on this section of road. The summary noted that 80 per cent of respondents to the consultation highlighted concern about reducing the number of lanes. Concerns included that this would slow evacuation down in the event of bushfires or other emergencies, reduce the ability of vehicles to manoeuvre to avoid hazards such as wildlife and black ice and cause frustration and tailgating behind slower vehicles.

In the summary the department noted that they had listened to the community’s concerns and developed draft road designs for a two-lane road in each direction without dedicated bike lanes, apart from a short distance of road and as a part of intersection upgrades. These draft designs were put out for public consultation in November 2022. The website inviting comment on the designs expressly ruled out reducing the traffic lanes, stating:

The current lane configuration will not be changed from two lanes to one lane in each direction (a reduction of lanes will be required for safety reasons between Island Farm Road and Brick Kiln Road and for a short distance at intersections to provide for turning lanes and other improvements).

Having read that clearly articulated statement on the Engage Victoria website that invited comments on designs that did not include bike lanes may have led many people who were satisfied with the draft designs and retention of two lanes each way not to contribute commentary any further, but unfortunately, when the final design was released in early October 2023, the government design was for a road with one vehicle lane in each direction with a dedicated bike lane. I have been contacted by numerous constituents in the Macedon Ranges community who are outraged at the government’s plans, which do not reflect the community’s expectations, given the strength of opposition to a reduction in lanes and the government’s commitment on Engage Victoria’s website that expressly ruled out any reduction in lanes.