By Oscar Parry
A Diggers Rest community group is continuing to advocate for duplication of Vineyard Road due to ongoing traffic safety concerns.
As previously reported by Star Weekly, the DREAM Diggers Rest Advocacy group obtained data from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) which showed there were 54 crashes from the intersection of Obeid Drive and Vineyard Road, to the intersection of Diggers Rest – Coimadai Road and Vineyard Road, from 2018 to June, 2023 – resulting in 71 injuries and 22 serious injuries.
On January 18, the group sent a letter to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne, again calling for urgent duplication of 3.5km of the road.
Group member Matt Pearse said that DREAM has been advocating for the road duplication as far back as July 2022.
According to Mr Pearse, the group was recently prompted to reanalyse TAC data following a news report regarding road tolls per Melbourne suburb, with the report showing there had been 10 road deaths in Diggers Rest between 2010-24.
“Sadly this main busy road has had an [alarmingly] high rate of accidents, many of which have contributed to these statistics with a tragic impact – loss of life in Diggers Rest,” he said.
“Vineyard Road as the gateway to Diggers Rest has remained a focus for our group due to a range of factors, including the delivery of a Coles supermarket and [a] future council-delivered community centre on this road.”
Mr Pearse said that councils, including Hume, can assist with continued advocacy.
“We need to stop politicising infrastructure and instead rely on the data and [precinct structure plans] that ensure the community has the infrastructure that is needed as the community grows,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Planning said that it will continue to work with council, developers and other key stakeholders to review the Vineyard Road corridor.
“Potential upgrades to Vineyard Road will be considered as part of future network planning,” the spokesperson said.
Melton Mayor Steve Abboushi said duplication of the said road is part of the future planning but it’s a declared VicRoads corridor.
“Ultimately a decision for the Department of Transport and Planning,” he said.
“Council has shared residents’ concerns with the Victorian Government and requested an urgent investigation into the safety concerns raised by the community in relation to the Vineyard Road corridor.”
