After more than 20 years of campaigning for improvements it was time to pop the champagne and celebrate a big win for the south-west.

The state of the highway has been deplorable for years and it was with great relief and satisfaction the state government finally chipped in its contribution.

The federal government committed $60 million to upgrade the dangerous stretch of highway between Warrnambool and Port Fairy in 2019 and now the state has come to the party with an extra 20 per cent to ensure works can get underway.

It's been a long and drawn out campaign which saw the formation of a lobby group - the Princes Highway West Action Alliance - to help keep pressure on for the cash to be delivered.

The alliance should be congratulated for its concerted efforts to secure the upgrades. It's been a hard fought battle.

We know the dangerous and dilapidated roads across the south-west are the community's number one concern.

There has been nine fatalities, 109 people who have suffered serious injuries and others who have been injured as a result of accidents on the highway over the past seven years.

A survey of more than 3000 readers of The Standard ahead of the 2018 state election showed their biggest issue or concern was the state of roads.

A whopping 93 per cent of respondents answered no to the statement 'the roads in my community are safe and in good condition'.

The Standard has led a concerted community campaign to urge state and federal politicians to commit funds to fix the roads.

In 2020 alone more than a hundred stories were written and finally, after years of campaigning, we are seeing action.

The importance of community campaigns cannot be underestimated.

We know it works.

Peter's Project is the best example. The community effort to secure a cancer care centre for the south-west saw $5 million raised in only nine months.

The Reid Oval upgrades, rail improvements, a new Warrnambool Special Developmental School and Warrnambool Base Hospital redevelopment have all come about through community pressure.

We are ticking off our funding wish lists, but now we need to keep the push on for cash for Warrnambool's harbour and The Lookout residential rehabilitation centre.

Together we can achieve our goals.