As part of the 2026 community priorities ahead of the state election, I’m pleased to see Golden Plains Shire Council advocating for the significant investment needed to improve transport and mobility options for current residents, as well as to support the Shire’s projected population growth—from 26,000 today to around 40,000 by 2040.
According to future growth and transport modelling in the G21 Integrated Transport Strategy, a “business as usual” approach would see car travel times increase dramatically. For example, average travel times between Bannockburn and Geelong are forecast to rise by an estimated 171%.
This highlights why strategic transport planning is essential to protecting the quality of life for Golden Plains residents and ensuring safe, efficient movement across the region as we transition to a lower carbon future.
Active transport and e-mobility infrastructure has to be part of future strategy, providing health and connectivity benefits whilst ameliorating traffic congestion and the need for significantly more infrastructure spending.
Currently, many road projects across the Shire are being delivered with support from the Safe Local Roads and Streets Program. Raised pedestrian crossings are being constructed in Bannockburn, Smythesdale, Inverleigh, Haddon and the Ross Creek Lacy Road intersection is receiving a much-needed upgrade.
Council has also received grant funding to undertake a comprehensive road safety audit of every town in the Shire and continues to deliver infrastructure that reduces risk—or advocates for it where roads are managed by the State.
In Teesdale, we’ve recently seen the results of many years of community led advocacy, with important new road safety upgrades now in place around the school zone and throughout the township. These improvements include new 40 km/h electronic school zone signs, an extended 40 km/h zone, and several speed limit changes.
Multiple bus stops in Teesdale are also receiving major upgrades, relocations and safety improvements. These upgrades follow a Council commissioned bus safety audit, which hastened the process and demonstrates a level of care I’m proud of.
We thank the Department of Transport and Planning for funding and delivering these upgrades. Thank you to everyone who raised concerns and pushed for action over many years and the Council officers who also helped build the case for these improvements.
This is a strong example of what can be achieved when residents, Council and the State Government work collaboratively toward a shared goal.
Lastly, following community consultation earlier this year, a redesigned plan for the car park opposite the shop in Teesdale and a pedestrian crossing will be out soon and able to be advanced relatively quickly with the Golden Plains Windfarm funding already in place.