Eight years after Labor promised to complete the Western Highway upgrade between Buangor and Ararat by 2020, regional Victorians are still waiting for the project to be delivered.
On 14 June 2018, Labor announced work had started on the next stage of the Western Highway duplication, promising the section between Buangor and Ararat would be completed by 2020.
Now, just weeks before the Victorian election, Labor has announced that major construction will begin in November, with completion now expected in 2029.
Member for Lowan and Deputy Leader of The Nationals, Emma Kealy, said regional Victorians deserved better than repeated promises on projects that should have been delivered years ago.
“Eight years ago, Labor told regional Victorians this road would be finished by 2020,” Ms Kealy said.
“Today, we are being told construction will start again, with completion now pushed out to 2029.
“Victorians who use the Western Highway every day simply want to see the project completed and the road made safer and more reliable.
“This is an important road for families, freight operators, tourists and emergency services, and regional communities have been waiting long enough.”
The 2018 announcement from then Roads Minister, Luke Donnellan, said: “We’re not wasting a minute in making it safer and more reliable.”
Ms Kealy said the delays had real consequences for those travelling between Ballarat and Stawell.
“In the decade to March this year, there were 158 crashes between Ballarat and Stawell, including 22 fatalities and 92 people seriously injured,” Ms Kealy said.
“Every year this project is delayed is another year that families, freight operators and emergency services are travelling on a highway that needs significant investment.
The Nationals are committed to completing the Western Highway duplication through to Stawell, as part of a broader $5 billion commitment to fix Victoria’s deteriorating roads.
“The Nationals will fix Victoria’s roads, deliver the upgrades regional communities have been waiting for and make sure regional Victoria gets its fair share of infrastructure investment,” Ms Kealy said.
“After 21 of the past 25 years under Labor, country Victorians deserve more than another promise about when work might begin.
“They deserve a government that will get on with the job and deliver.”
Previous Victorian Government announcements:
14 June 2018 – Next Stage Of Western Highway Duplication Begins https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/next-stage-western-highway-duplication-begins
15 May 2026 – Construction To Begin On Western Highway Upgrade This Year https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/construction-begin-western-highway-upgrade-year
30 October 2026 – Construction To Start On Western Highway https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/construction-start-western-highway