$8.8 million for rural roads to be widened

Published on 15 June 2022

Five priority rural roads across Horsham Rural City Council will receive a share of more than $5 million in Australian Government funding.  

In a major win for the municipality, a total of 36.2km will be widened thanks to the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program’s $5,096,156 contribution that will be boosted by Council funding of $3,661,082.

The following roads will be strengthened and widened to 6.2 m, dual lanes:

• Dimboola-Minyip Road - Yarriambiack Shire Council is also providing a contribution of $331,905 for this project. This important connector road has been gradually widened in collaboration with Yarriambiack Shire.  This grant will widen all remaining 7.6 km of narrow sections of this route to 6.2 m.
• Horsham-Lubeck Road – widening of 4.9 km
• Noradjuha-Tooan East Road – widening single side 9.5 km of this local farm machinery link to the Horsham-Noradjuha Road to 6.2 m
• North-East Wonwondah Road – road widening 7.6 km
• Polkemmet Road, Horsham – road widening 6.6 km

The roads were identified as high priorities in HRCC’s Rural Road Network Plan which was developed through engagement with rural communities.

Mayor Robyn Gulline said the works would occur across the next three years on strategically important roads that provide linkages to the Western, Wimmera and Henty Highways, along with the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal at Dooen and the Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange.

“Council is very thankful to the Australian Government for this support which will enable our own HRCC roads budget to go so much further,” Mayor Robyn Gulline said.

“It will make our local roads safer and ensure that two B-double trucks can pass each other without moving off the road. It will also provide efficient and safe routes for heavy vehicles that mean they can detour around Horsham, saving time and money,” she said.