Hume and Macedon Ranges councils are supporting Brimbank council’s call for all hands on deck to rally for both the federal and state governments to ‘Fix the Calder’.
Nearby Brimbank council will host a community event on Saturday, April 20, at Overnewton Gatehouse Hall, Keilor, from 9.30am to launch a new advocacy brochure on ‘Improving the Calder Highway’.
The brochure has been produced by the Calder Highway Improvement Committee (CHIC) and outlines CHIC’s priorities for improving safety on the Calder Highway.
A Hume council spokesperson said they are calling on funding to add lanes from Keilor Park Drive to Melton Highway and to widen the Maribyrnong River bridge.
Council is also calling on construction of a full diamond interchange at the intersection of the Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive, and the triplication of Calder Park Drive between the Calder Freeway and Gap Road.
“Hume council shares Brimbank council’s request for improvements to the Calder and the benefits they will have for residents inside the Hume boundary,” the spokesperson said.
“These improvements will reduce the congestion on the Calder that has contributed to the nearly 200 crashes experienced on this section of road over the last decade.”
Macedon Ranges council director of assets and operations Shane Walden said council is pleased to continue working collaboratively with other councils on CHIC.
“The Macedon Ranges sits at the heart of the Calder between Melbourne and Bendigo, with about 80 kilometres of this essential route located within our shire,” he said.
“Council is pleased… to contribute from our unique perspective and support shared advocacy efforts such as the new advocacy brochure set to be launched later this month.”
Since the campaign was launched in April 2021, the state government has made a range of announcements including a $50 million investment for minor upgrades, planning and investigative works, the level crossing removal at Calder Park Drive, due for completion in 2025, and a now completed business case to investigate a diamond interchange at Calder Park Drive.
Brimbank council is now calling on the federal government to reassess the project and provide adequate funding to make the Calder safe, following its withdrawal of $50 million promised by the previous government.
It is also calling on the state government to increase its $50m funding commitment and release the findings and recommendations of the Calder Park Drive Interchange business case.
Details: fixthecalder.brimbank.vic.gov.au
