That’s the message former Corangamite Shire mayor Chris O’Connor wants the south-west to heed in the lead-up to the 2018 state election.

He is calling on the region to unite around one solution for the Princes Highway west of Colac – a 2+1 model.

The three-lane system is used in parts of Europe and New Zealand, where statistics show it has slashed the risk of head-on crashes. It features two lanes in one direction and one in the other, separated by a flexible barrier and alternating at two-kilometre intervals to provide frequent overtaking opportunities.

Mr O’Connor said with Princes Highway duplication works well under way between Winchelsea and Colac, now was the time to plan the next stage.

Next year’s state election adds a sense of urgency to the push for a better highway between Colac and the South Australian border.

“It is imperative that our local government members, our state politicians and prospective candidates come out and recognise the Princes Highway West as our number one priority road project,” he said.

“There is nothing holding back tourism, economic development and investment more than our main road.

“If we want to share in the extraordinary growth and investment in Victoria and stay vibrant and productive, people need the ability to get here in a safe and timely manner.”

He said while a dual-lane highway west of Colac was not politically achievable or justified by traffic numbers, a 2+1 road was a cheaper, more achievable model.

The united group of the region’s councils, the Great South Coast Group, has called for an investigation into the feasibility of 2+1, along with other models.

RACV roads and traffic manager David Jones said the 2+1 design delivered significant safety benefits for roads with lower traffic volumes.

VicRoads boss John Merritt called 2+1 “a really attractive idea”, and speaking to The Standard in 2016, Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said 2+1 would be one of the potential upgrades.

However, it now seems more likely the government favours additional passing lanes instead – a solution championed by Western Victorian MP James Purcell.

Meanwhile, the Princes Highway west of Colac continues to take a toll. Six people have died on the road in the past five years. There have been 13 head-on collisions, 46 run-off-road crashes and three serious accidents from drivers trying to overtake.

There are fears more passing lanes for the Princes Highway will fall short of what’s needed for the south-west to keep pace with the rest of the nation.

The state government plans to build additional passing lanes on the Princes Highway between Colac and the South Australian border.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan has not said how many overtaking lanes would be built, or put a dollar figure on what the state government plans to spend.

“We’re currently investigating possible locations for further overtaking lanes along the Princes Highway from Colac to the SA border and will be seeking feedback from the community in the new year,” Mr Donnellan said in a statement to The Standard.

VicRoads said it was preparing a business case for more overtaking lanes and Transport Victoria is developing a statewide regional roads strategy to “inform the development and planning of major road corridors”, including the Princes Highway.

Former Corangamite Shire mayor Chris O’Connor said the Princes Highway was the biggest infrastructure issue facing the region and would only get worse as traffic increases once the duplication to Colac is complete.

“The promise of passing lanes would be of assistance but far short of what is required,” he said.

“Passing lanes create frustration, chaos, encourage drivers to speed and could take many years to be completed. A commitment for passing lanes is a promise for next to nothing for a generation.”

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said it was up to the experts to decide what option was best for the Princes Highway, but something had to be done quickly.

“Get the job done so people can stop taking risks overtaking. 2+1 might work, 50 passing lanes might work. It’s about getting the authorities in the field to make that decision,” she said.

“We’ve just been identified as the number one region for farm output in Victoria and the second in the nation, we cannot get product to market efficiently without good roads.”

Mrs Britnell said poor road links were also holding back tourism and population growth.

”We can’t address that unless we’re making the journey smooth, enjoyable and shorter. What we’re doing is making it longer, rough and very, very challenging.”