SINGER and songwriter Neil Murray will be guest speaker at a community meeting organised by the Western Highway Alternative Mindset (WHAM) for Ararat next Wednesday night.
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WHAM member Alanna Burton said the meeting will be an opportunity for members of the community to have their say on the duplication of the Western Highway.
"There is an impromptu event booked at The Red Room in the Ararat Hotel, Barkly Street Ararat for Wednesday starting 6.30pm," she said.
"This will be a friendly, informative evening, calling on locals who are concerned about the Western Highway duplication and how it will impact our beautiful countryside, businesses and tourists.
"This is an opportunity to have some positive input into what is a major event that will affect us all and may mean an end to the beauty in our neighbourhood that we can tend to take for granted.
"Once it's gone it's gone, no offsets can replace what we have here."
VicRoads Acting Project Director David Runnalls said he understands the community's concerns about the impact of the upgrade on the environment.
"We are working with contractors and community groups to make changes that minimise environmental impact where possible," he said.
"While the alignment is set, there are measures we can do and are doing to mitigate impacts along the way.
"As part of the Western Highway duplication, VicRoads regularly communicates with a wide variety of stakeholders.
"We regularly meet with relevant councils, landowners, government departments and interest groups including WHAM representatives, who met with VicRoads on March 25 and speak with us on numerous occasions.
"We are establishing a representative Environmental Consultation Group which includes WHAM representatives to assist us with decisions on future environmental initiatives for sections underway and the sections to be constructed.
"We are scheduling our first meeting for early June."
Mr Runnalls said VicRoads' foremost priority is keeping the community safe on our roads.
"The Western Highway duplication will provide a safer and more efficient four-lane divided route by duplicating the highway and putting in a centre median to reduce the risk of crashes, such as head-ons," he said.
"In the five years to December 2014, there were 79 crashes on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell, including 11 fatalities and 49 serious injuries.
"Infrastructure upgrades, such as those on the Western Highway, add up to less families undergoing the trauma of road crashes, so we're always working to continue the road safety improvements and upgrades in Western Victoria."
Although acknowledging the need for a safer highway, Ms Burton said that shouldn't come at the expense of flora and fauna and native vegetation.
"This is a social event where locals can gather, exchange and share local knowledge and history a time to reflect on what could be lost and work towards not letting this happen," she said.
"There is a long way to go yet and we intend to draw a line in the sand."
Mr Runnalls said to date, the total distance of duplicated highway is 34 kilometres.
"The section between Burrumbeet and Beaufort is almost complete, with bridge works at Trawalla drawing to a close next month," he said.
"West of Beaufort, we expect to move motorists to a newly constructed section of the highway soon weather permitting to allow for the upgrade of the existing highway.
"We advise drivers to keep a look out for electronic message boards and warning signs advising of traffic changes."
Melbourne University professor and arborist Greg Moore will also speak at next week's gathering with meeting goers asked to provide a donation of $5 on entry.
For more information about the meeting contact WHAM on Facebook or Alanna Burton on 0435 602 245.
Mr Runnalls said no one from VicRoads will be present at next week's meeting but is happy to answer any queries that may arise.
"We encourage anyone who has any questions or concerns to contact us on whp@roads.vic.gov.au."