Ms ADDISON (Wendouree) (19:08): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide me with an update on the massive road blitz that is being undertaken to keep Ballarat moving.

In 2018 we announced a re-elected Andrews Labor government would invest $58.6 million in nine crucial intersection upgrades across Ballarat. I am pleased that the works have commenced on a number of these projects.

One of these intersections is the Sturt Street–Russell Street–Morrison Street intersection in Newington. This is a particularly busy and dangerous intersection, with Victoria Park on one corner and Loreto College on the other. I have always considered it to be a difficult and hazardous crossing. I am very pleased that we are installing traffic lights at this intersection, making it safer for school students, pedestrians, runners, cyclists and vehicles to go from Russell Street across Sturt Street to access Lake Wendouree.

Also a number of community members and local businesses in Delacombe, Winter Valley and Alfredton have raised with me the congested roundabout at the intersection of Learmonth Street, Ballarat-Carngham Road, Wiltshire Lane and La Trobe Street. This is an area of significant growth, and the heavy traffic at the roundabout is a cause of frustration for motorists at all times of the day.

Our plan to replace the roundabout with traffic lights will improve traffic flow through this intersection. Further, work has begun on the installation of traffic lights at the busy Gillies Street in Lake Gardens at the Gregory Street intersection. Gregory Street has been opened up to be a convenient east–west route through the area, and it will no doubt increase traffic.

Approximately 2400 vehicles use this intersection each hour during peak time. This is expected to increase by 60 per cent by 2041. The new traffic lights and the linking of them to the Howitt Street intersection will certainly improve traffic flow and take the stress out of turning in and out of Gregory Street.

The addition of new lanes to both the Cuthberts Road and Learmonth Street roundabout and the Learmonth Street and Sturt Street roundabout at the Arch of Victory will improve traffic flow and reduce queuing in peak periods. I am also looking forward to the construction of the new roundabout at the corner of Dyson Drive and Ballarat-Carngham Road for Lucas and Alfredton residents.

As the Ballarat population continues to grow, the upgrade of these important intersections will make a real difference to the safety and connectivity of our city. I look forward to receiving an update from the minister on how these upgrades to these important intersections are progressing and to sharing this information with my community.

Read the Minister’s response here – or for more of my contributions in Parliament, click here.