SOUTH-WEST communities will be asked to drown out the sound of passing traffic with protest chants in a call to the state government for more passing lanes on the Princes Highway between Colac and the South Australian border.
People power will be harnessed in four of the region's municipalities for a weekend of rallies on September 18 and 19.
The mayors of Warrnambool City and the shires of Moyne, Glenelg and Corangamite yesterday announced the rallies would step up the campaign for a better and safer highway.
With the state election less than three months away they want a commitment from the ALP and Liberals to build the 21 passing lanes promised 10 years ago in a government strategy.
Barely a quarter have been built so far despite the strategy aiming to have all 21 done by the end of this year.
The 278 kilometres from Colac to the SA border have only 10 passing lanes compared with 26 on the 320 kilometres between Melbourne and Gippsland.
There are only two between Warrnambool and Portland. Another will be built next year just west of Dennington.
"We want a commitment from both sides of Parliament that all the promised lanes will be completed in the next term of parliament," the mayors said.
"That's why we are urging the community to support us.
"If you want to make a stand this is your chance.
"If the politicians want to turn up they must come with a promise."
Rallies will be held in the highway centres of Portland, Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Camperdown to be addressed by community leaders.
Times and venues are yet to be confirmed.
Road safety and traffic volume increases will be some of the main concerns raised.
With $9 billion worth of new energy projects coming the mayors have been told to expect an extra 20,000 vehicle movements for every 100 new wind turbines, 600 B-double trucks a day travelling to and from the Port of
Portland with the timber harvest, a 50 per cent increase in milk production in the next 10 to 15 years and 10,000 tourists a day in the next decade travelling down the highway and Great Ocean Road.
Then there is the expected population growth in Warrnambool alone of another 20,000 people in the next two decades.
“We want to get in front of all this, we don’t want to be behind,” Warrnambool’s chief executive Bruce Anson said.
The mayors met VicRoads officials yesterday and asked for a report on the time frame for the promised highway passing lanes.
Hopefully the information will be available before Mr Anson and Moyne chief executive Brett Stonestreet present the south-west regional plan to the state government on September 23.
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