The Northern Grampians Shire Council has a framework for upgrading Stawell's Western Highway precinct after they adopted the Western Highway Urban Design Framework (UDF).
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At their April meeting, the council voted to adopt the Western Highway Urban Design Framework after community feedback and consultation had resulted in some notes on the plan.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Murray Emerson said the plan would help the council's decision-making in the future, with safety and improving the presentation of Stawell some of its key aspects.
"The importance of the Western Highway plan is more about getting the passing traffic into our CBD," he said.
"Bearing in mind the dual highway is coming some time in the future and it will become a very important part of our community and for people travelling along the highway.
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"It (the plan) is also about the safety requirements.
"There is a lot of heavy traffic that heads through Stawell West and part of the plan is to make sure we cater for that from a safety point of view.
"That's what the plan is all about, safety and encouraging people to stop in Stawell."
Traffic lights at the busy Seaby Street-Western Highway intersection have also been raised as a possibility.
Cr Emerson said the council were in discussions with Regional Roads Victoria about what changes to make to the intersection, if any.
"It (traffic lights) is addressed in the plan and it is an ongoing discussion with Regional Roads Victoria," he said.
"I think the plan from their point of view, is to have lights there which would enhance the safety of the intersection.
"There is a lot of traffic there and a lot of traffic coming onto the highway from the town area and a lot of traffic coming onto the highway from the Lake Fyans so it is a very important intersection."
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Regional Roads Victoria said they regularly assesses proposals from Council and the local community, with a key priority to ensure that any change was safe for all road users - in this case, balancing the needs and safety of highway and local traffic.
Department of Transport Regional Director (Grampians) Michael Bailey said Regional Roads Victoria was working closely with the Northern Grampians Shire Council about the future of the Western Highway in Stawell.
"We know that the Western Highway is one of Victoria's busiest and most productive freight and travel routes, with rapid residential and commercial growth in Stawell's west also increasing the number of vehicles using this intersection each day," he said.
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"That's why we're continuing to work with Northern Grampians Shire Council and the community around planning for the future of this intersection."
Over the past 20 years, the total traffic volumes along the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell have increased by approximately 47 per cent. The proportion of heavy vehicles has increased by 12 per cent over the same period.
The Western Highway Urban Design Framework project was started in March 2019 along with the Stawell Structure Plan project.
The UDF states a traffic light at Seaby Street would provide a pause point and opportunity to capture an audience into the township through image and signage.
It also said the Seaby Street intersection presents a significant upgrade opportunity to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety at a critical wayfinding intersection.
Upgrades to the intersection at Seaby Street intersection were also clearly identified as one of the five key areas to improve.
To read more about the Western Highway Urban Design Framework visit the Northern Grampians Shire Council to find a copy.
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