Council & Politics
13 August, 2025
Green light for road upgrade
SUBSTANTIAL funding has been secured by Ararat Rural City Council to upgrade the Buangor-Ben Nevis Road.
Federal Minister for Instrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King was in Bayindeen last Friday to announce a $5 million contribution to upgrade the road.
The project is one of 23 across the country receiving funding through the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, an initiative designed to increase productivity, and make local roads and bridges safer and more resilient.
The upgrade in Bayindeen which will be delivered by the Ararat Rural City Council, will reconstruct, widen and seal approximately 6.2 kilometres of Buangor-Ben Nevis Road to a new minimum width of 7 metres.
The works will change the road from the existing single lane, which is shared by traffic going in both directions into two lanes, significantly increasing the safety for locals and visitors.
Associated works include excavation and removal of existing pavement, new road base, drainage works, sealing, line marking, safety barriers and associated signage.
The Ararat Rural City Council will make an additional contribution of $1.25 million towards the upgrade.
Minister King drove the Buangor-Ben Nevis Road last week with Ripon MP Martha Haylett.
She told the Ararat Advocate the road is clearly inadequate.
“This road is consistently raised by locals as in desperate need of an upgrade. This funding will deliver a much safer journey for locals or tourists passing through or visiting the iconic Mt Langi Ghiran winery.
“Martha (Haylett) has also been advocating for improvements to this road and it’s voices like hers that make a big difference,” she said.
“This funding will enable Ararat Rural City Council to improve road safety and allow more money and time to be spent on other priority projects.”
Ms Haylett said it is very apparent the road is not fit for purpose.
“I've driven this road many times, particularly during the Bayindeen bushfires last year. This is a really significant road for the Warrak community, but also for emergency services, for locals and for tourists travelling to our wineries.
“It’s clear that this road needs an upgrade and it’s fantastic to have a partner in the Albanese Government, and to see $5 million being invested into upgrading the Buangor-Ben Nevis Road.
“This upgrade is a huge win for our rural community,” Ms Haylett said.
The funding commitment from the Federal Government has been welcomed by Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison.
‘It’s great to partner with the Commonwealth Government around this kind of road development,” he said.
“Anyone who has been down the Buangor-Ben Nevis Road between Warrak and the Western Highway will realise it needs a fair bit of work, it takes a fair bit of heavy traffic and tourism traffic, and it will be fantastic to do some work on it.
“$5 million from the Federal Government matched with $1.25 million from council will deliver a really strong outcome for the development of that road,” Dr Harrison said.
While being an important access road for local residents, the road also services Mt Langi Ghiran and Mountainside vineyards.
Mountainside Wines co-owner Jane Goninon was delighted with the news the road will be improved.
“A better road will give our visitors greater safety. It’s something we have wanted and needed for a long time.”
“That $5 million will mean that more of the road will be upgrades and that means greater safety and makes it easier for tourists to get through to the wineries and the Pyrenees.”
“Dr (Tim) Harrison is keen and dedicated to improve the businesses in the local area but is also interested in the lives of people using the road,” she said.
Council is in the process of developing final plans for the road upgrade with work expected to commence in coming months.