Golden Plains Shire Council is inviting residents, road users, businesses and visitors to have their say on the development of a new Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan 2027–2037 (the Strategy), which will guide efforts to reduce road trauma and improve safety across the municipality over the next decade.
The Strategy will identify priorities and actions to improve safety for all road users and align with the Victorian Road Safety Strategy, with a focus on reducing fatal and serious injury crashes across Golden Plains Shire.
On average, three people lose their lives and 70 people are seriously injured on roads across the Shire each year, with most crashes occurring on high-speed rural roads. While crash data provides valuable insights, Council is seeking community feedback to better understand local road safety concerns, risks and opportunities for improvement.
Community input will help shape future infrastructure upgrades, education and awareness initiatives, and investment priorities. The strategy will explore opportunities to improve safety on high-speed and residential roads, support safer walking, riding and motorcycling, and enhance key roads and intersections to meet the needs of a growing community.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said community input would play a critical role in developing a practical and effective Strategy for the future.
"Every road user deserves to get home safely. That's why it's so important that our community comes together to help shape a Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan that reflects local experiences and priorities and supports safer outcomes for everyone,” Cr Sharkey said.
"We want to hear directly from residents, businesses, visitors and everyone who uses our roads about the challenges they face and the improvements they would like to see,” he said.
"Our goal is to develop a practical, community-supported strategy that helps reduce fatal and serious injury crashes over the coming decade. Every piece of feedback we receive will help ensure the strategy reflects the needs of our communities and supports safer, more connected places for people to live, work and travel."
Feedback on the Strategy is invited from Monday 13 July until 5pm, Monday 10 August 2026 and can be completed at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations. The survey will also be available at Council’s Customer Hubs, 2 Pope Street, Bannockburn, and 19 Heales Street, Smythesdale.
Following the consultation period, community feedback will be considered as part of the development of the Strategy. Council will keep the community informed on its progress.
For further information, contact Council’s Asset Services team at [email protected] or call 5220 7111.