The ongoing fight to have Vineyard Road upgraded has received a boost, with Melton council agreeing to advocate for the issue.
In a council meeting on August 26, a notice of motion was passed requesting an urgent investigation into safety concerns and a review of the duplication of the road.
It means council will write to Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne and Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny for help.
The safety concerns have been led by the DREAM group, which is made up of Diggers Rest residents who advocate for the local community.
DREAM member Ashleigh Brown said fixing Vineyard Road was a top priority of locals.
“It’s pretty much the first thing we have needed to happen. Since I joined [DREAM group] in 2021 it’s been an issue for everyone,” she said.
“It’s the main path for anyone coming through Diggers Rest who are visiting and using our amenities … that road has a massive impact.”
Ms Brown said the upgrade was necessary to serve the growing number of commuters and protect community members but could not be rushed.
“It is a critical corridor with the amount of traffic on it … it’s a safety review that we want … and an upgrade from there,” she said.
“All of us have to make sure it happens in a way that is beneficial to the community, not just a shortcut patch job.”
To Ms Brown, improvements would look like additional lanes and speed limit changes.
On August 14, Melton council received a letter from Hume council asking it to ‘jointly advocate’ on shared priorities relating to Vineyard Road.
Now, Melton council will write back agreeing to this team up.
Ms Brown said this was a welcome move from the perspective of the DREAM group, who have been very vocal about the matter for a long time.
“Every demographic is going to benefit from both councils and the state government working together,” she said.
“As residents, we can have a hard time feeling heard on the outskirts of the Melton council [boundary], so being heard on this pivotal issue makes a massive difference for us.”
