By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

 

STATE Leader of the Nationals, Danny O’Brien, has confirmed that if the Coalition wins the November election, they will activate the Bank Street-Princes Highway traffic lights.

In speaking with the Express during the Opposition leader Jess Wilson’s visit to Morwell last month, Mr O’Brien said that he and Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron want to see the eight-year project complete.

“It’s hard to know what the problem is … the excuse seems to keep on changing,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We’ve heard so many different stories from the government over the years. Whether it’s the regional rail line upgrade, that’s done, so what’s going on?”

If the Coalition comes into power, the Member for Gippsland South will become the Minister for Roads, saying straight out that he’ll “get it done.”

Mr O’Brien described his frustration with the traffic lights still not being installed, given it was originally announced in the 2017/18 Victorian Budget.

“Then the federal government have given them money for it, I don’t actually know why,” he said.

“And here we are in 2026 and it still hasn’t happened.”

As detailed in the Express’ most recent coverage, following separate construction works beginning in July that didn’t concern the traffic lights, the Albanese government said it committed $5.8 million in the latest Federal Budget to finish the project.

The current roadworks, which involve the installation of a gated pedestrian crossing on both sides of the highway on Bank St and at the entrance to the Traralgon Golf Club, are also entirely federally funded.

When works were announced for Bank St on July 20, Latrobe City Council said it could affect traffic for up to three months, with closures for the road parallel to the highway.

Mr Cameron recently revealed that the latest reason for why the Bank St traffic lights completion date has been pushed back to sometime in 2027 is because of local flora and fauna.

In countless correspondence and questions raised in state Parliament, Mr Cameron said the current Roads Minister, Ros Spence said that “potentially sensitive species” are in danger.

“We’ve waited nearly eight years for much-needed traffic lights at the Bank Street intersection, but unfortunately we’ll have to wait even longer,” Mr Cameron said.

“After promising the lights would be operational mid-2026, Labor has shifted the goalposts again and can’t provide a timeline for delivery because of a new ‘complexity’ it refers to as ‘potentially sensitive species’.

“I can’t see how placing traffic lights on poles that already exist would impact the ecosystem in a neighbouring reserve.

“Further to this, if local flora and fauna is a concern, why is Latrobe City Council currently undertaking works at Bank Street to resurface the road and pavement?

“Labor is more concerned about potentially sensitive species than it is the safety of the 20,000 motorists who pass this death trap intersection every day.”

Mr Cameron also claimed Ms Spence said that the Department of Transport and Planning need to conduct “environmental studies that can only be undertaken in spring” and would also require “cultural heritage approvals”.

The Bank St intersection is listed on the Transport Victoria website as being expected to be fully operational by early 2027.

Executive Director Gippsland, Department of Transport and Planning, Beth Liley said there was a number of factors at play.

“We’re working closely with V/Line to interlink traffic lights at the Bank Street intersection, including undertaking the usual site assessments,” she said

“We thank the community for their patience as we work to deliver a safer crossing for drivers.”

The department said work is continuing to switch on interlinked traffic signals on the Princes Highway at the Bank St intersection.

Traffic light coordination is unique for each crossing, and includes the usual assessments of site conditions including environment and heritage assessments.

The required environmental survey at Bank St can only be conducted in spring and works to switch on the traffic signals will continue after this process.