General News
2 March, 2026
Take a trip to Bendigo ... if you want to see road plan
DESIGNS for overtaking lanes in on the Calder Highway have not been displayed in Loddon communities.
Department of Transport and Planning has opted for a City of Greater Bendigo offices display of the long-delayed project in the Loddon Shire.
Council’s director operations Steve Van Orsouw said the department had not approached Loddon to display preliminary documentation.
And in a further snub to Loddon communities, the State Government has advertised feedback on its plans for lanes between Bridgewater and Marong only in Bendigo with the online link not working for the first 24 hours of consultation that closes in a fortnight.
The overtaking lane project has been plagued by delays for much of the decade.
Despite funding be announced by the Federal Government, there was a halt when a freeze and review was put on infrastructure projects when the Albanese government was elected.
The former Coalition government had earmarked $8.03 million for construction of northbound and southbound overtaking lanes.
Funds were again allowed to flow in late 2023 when Mallee MP Anne Webster said: “With such a high volume of traffic on the Calder Highway between Marong and Bridgewater these overtaking lanes are a key initiative to improve that and I am pleased the minister has had the sense to fund them.
“The next fight will be ensuring Labor delivers on what they have now committed to, it is a concern when it comes to city-centric Labor Governments at Federal and State level who will prioritise their pet projects in the cities,” she said.
Last week it was revealed environmental studies were needed of the site because of swift parrot habitat.
Department of Transport and Planning was asked this week why preliminary documents had not been displayed in the Loddon Shire. No response has been received.
The department had “discussed project specifics around design and vegetation management”, said Loddon Shire’s director operations Steve van Orsouw.