A bastardised version of astronaut Neil Armstrong's famous words when he set foot on the moon - "that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" - applies to Princes Highway upgrades.
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Wannon MP Dan Tehan revealed to The Standard on Friday the Princes Highway west of Colac to the South Australian border had been added to the National Land Transport Network. It is a small step but giant leap forward. It's something to celebrate.
The campaign to have the highway recognised as nationally significant stretches back two decades and across the reign of seven different prime ministers. The recognition has also had various names, road of national importance, AUSLINK and now the National Land Transport Network.
Our stretch of the highway is now in the running for more funds and upgrades. Essentially, roads on the network are a high priority for maintenance - something that has been shockingly lacking.
Anyone who drives the highway west of Colac knows how dilapidated sections are and how a lack of investment has rendered it dangerous. Last June we revealed less than half the overtaking lanes earmarked for the Princes Highway between Colac and the South Australian border in a 1999 strategy had actually been built.
Not for the first time a group formed to fight for a better deal. The Princes Highway West Action Alliance argued that outside "a limited number of passing lanes" there had been "no significant improvements to what remains a dangerous stretch of road".
Mr Tehan and the alliance, headed by Warrnambool Bus Lines owner Steven Lucas, have plenty more work to do before we see improvements and a flood more cash.
Mr Tehan and his government last year committed $60 million for upgrades between Warrnambool and Port Fairy but so far the state government has not matched it nor given a green light for any works.
Mr Lucas earlier this week said more than 100 jobs would be created during upgrades prioritised by the alliance - something that would help kick-start the region's pandemic-hit economy. It's been a long road but light is finally at the end of the tunnel.