The issue of build-up on median strips along the Princes Highway in Traralgon will be raised at tonight’s Latrobe City Council’s monthly meeting.
It comes after Latrobe City deputy mayor Dan Clancey called on VicRoads to improve cleaning practices on sections of the Princes Highway running through Traralgon following a build-up on median strips.
However, VicRoads has rejected the call, saying council has an agreement in place with Latrobe City Council to undertake maintenance functions on behalf of VicRoads, to which VicRoads makes a financial contribution.
Cr Dale Harriman will put forward a notion of motion at the council meeting tonight regarding the level of service on the highway.
“Cr Harriman and I have both been concerned about this for quite some time and have discussed it often,” Cr Clancey said.
Cr Clancey previously told The Express centre medians along the Traralgon stretch of the highway had been “neglected” over the last couple of years, resulting in a build-up of dirt, rubble and weeds.
“It is the number one highway of Australia, so people are coming all the way around Australia holidaying and they pull up at the lights when they come into town and this is what they see,” he said.
“That sort of draws on investment into the future, so when people arrive they look at what we look like as a whole from Latrobe City and they are making decisions about whether this is where they want to put their business and their staff in the future.”
VicRoads eastern regional director Scott Lawrence said VicRoads was responsible for maintaining arterial roads, including the Princes Highway, to “ensure the safe movement of people and freight to support jobs and the economy of Gippsland”.
“Where an arterial road travels through a township, councils can elect to undertake additional works to increase the amenity and beautification of the town,” he said.
“VicRoads has an agreement in place with Latrobe City Council to undertake maintenance functions on behalf of VicRoads, to which we make a financial contribution to council.”
According to VicRoads, the works that Latrobe City Council undertakes on behalf of VicRoads includes kerb and channel cleaning, the maintenance of central medians and roadside vegetation management.
