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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
BROKEN PROMISES
■ Victorian Roads Minister Melissa Horne
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The Local Paper Phone 1800 231 311, 0450 399 932 editor@LocalPaper.com.au
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failed to honour a commitment to have roadside vegetation reduced in time for last fire season, says Yea community identity Neil Beer. Mr Beer says Ms Horne promised on December 10 last year, in answer to a question from Eildon MLA Cindy McLeish, that the Department of Transport and Planning would complete barrier works and centreline safety barrier maintenance across the state, prior to the 2024 fire season. Ms Horne told Parliament: "This includes ensuring vegetation doesn't block drivers' views and reducing fields along roadsides in preparation for the fire season in December [2024], DTP will target the repair of safety barriers and vegetation in sections with edgeline and centre-line barriers on the Goulburn Valley Hwy, including the section between Yea and Molesworth." Ms Horne further stated: "Roadside vegetation is an important part of keeping our roads safe for all users and managing bushfire risks." Ms McLeish had repeatedly raised the issue of centre wire rope barriers, telling Parliament: "It is now getting hard to see the barriers in amongst the vegetation which is growing in and around them. "The action I seek is for the minister to arrange for the removal of the bushes, shrubs and trees that are growing next to and among the barriers. This needs to be done quick smart before they become more dangerous," Ms McLeish told the Legislative Assembly on November 26 lat year. "The vegetation is getting out of hand. There are too many bushes to count. Many are a metre high and almost as wide. There is definitely one gum tree in the mix and loads of grasses and weeds. "Importantly, locals want to know how much higher do the trees and bushes need to get before they are removed. Surely they have reached this point now." With Spring 2025 now here, local emergency volunteers are concerned that without a proper fix last summer, the road safety problems will be even greater this year. The Roadsafe Goulburn Valley body says that wire rope barriers have been left damaged for months. There are 19 separate sections within 14 kilometres between Yea and Molesworth. The barriers are on the Goulburn Valley, Melba and Hume Highways. The barriers were installed after a year in which there were five fatalities. The Yea CFA Rescue and Alexandra SES attended most of these incidents. Volunteers are concerned that with the current condition of the barriers, that there not be a repeat of those years of car-
Mitchell Brown www.broadforditsolutions.com.au info@broadforditsolutions.com.au
0493 804 698
● Neil Beer. Photo: ABC
nage. Roadsafe Goulburn Valley is also concerned about the ongoing poor state of roads, not only locally, but across Victoria. The Government found $555,000 for overhead road signs at Yea and Yarck, which remain inoperative, but could not find the funds for essential safety works to help eliminate fatalities on local highways, Mr Beer said.
● The State Government found $550,000 for safety signs erected on the GV Hwy, east of Yea.
SOD TURNED AT BEVERIDGE
0411 462 685
Contact: Arthur Email: arthur@pro-xconcretelandscaping.com Web: www.pro-xconcretelandscaping.com
New Computers, Repairs, Lessons/Tutoring, Phones, Websites & more!
● Beveridge retail precinct
■ The next stage of Beveridge’s retail and community growth is underway, with a sod turn marking the start of works on a new retail precinct at the eastern corner of Lithgow St and Mallaig Drive. The precinct, which will be known as Beveridge Village, will feature 14 retail shops and a childcare facility, including a small supermarket, laundromat, barber, and more. The developer Oreana is aiming to have the site open in the second quarter of 2026. Mitchell Shire Mayor Cr John Dougall said the sod turn was an exciting milestone for the Beveridge community.