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Road safety Wire rope barriers

Ryan calls for brakes on wire rope barrier rollout

15 December 2017

The rollout of wire rope barrier on the Midland Hwy should be stopped to allow for further investigation and consultation with the community.

That was the message from Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan to Roads Minister Luke Donnellan in Parliament this week.

Ms Ryan said farmers, road users and emergency services personnel had raised concerns with her about the installation of wire rope barriers.

“Until these concerns are properly addressed, the rollout should be halted,” Ms Ryan said.

“There is real concern that there is a lack of space for larger vehicles such as trucks, buses and fire tankers should they need to pull over.

“The lack of space also raises questions about how farmers are supposed to safely move large machinery between properties without taking up space in the opposite lane.

“We need to ensure the barriers fulfil their purpose of increasing safety instead of heightening risk.”

Ms Ryan said she was particularly concerned about access for emergency services vehicles.

“People feel that the rollout of these barriers on the Midland Hwy was dreamt up by a bureaucrat within the TAC who has no understanding of the road, the need to move farming machinery or provide access for emergency services.”

Ms Ryan said she put questions to the Minister last month, asking him what provisions were being made for first responders in the event of an emergency.

“Given the Minister still hasn’t responded, I have no confidence that the issue of emergency access has been considered.

“It’s yet another example of Labor ignoring the commonsense concerns of country people,” Ms Ryan said.