General News
11 March, 2026
No Date. No Cost. No Finish Line.
MORE than 15 years after governments first promised to duplicate the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell, there is still no confirmed completion date for the remaining stretch west of Buangor. There is also no updated public cost for finishing it. That is despite repeated funding announcements, including a 2019 federal commitment of $360 million to complete the final section between Ararat and Stawell.
Last month, this masthead put a detailed set of questions to both the Commonwealth and Victorian governments seeking confirmation of the current funding position, the most recent cost estimate in current dollars, whether any funding shortfall exists, when construction will recommence west of Buangor, and what completion year is anticipated for duplication to Stawell.
Both tiers of government reaffirmed their commitment to the project. Neither provided a construction restart date, a completion year, or an updated total cost estimate.
A Big Build Roads spokesperson said work was continuing on the Buangor–Ararat section.
“We’ve been working on a revised design for the Western Highway duplication between Buangor and Ararat, with construction to resume once detailed planning work has been completed,” the spokesperson said.
In background material accompanying the response, Big Build Roads said: “The revised completion date will be determined once all the detailed planning work has been completed.”
It also said interim safety measures had been installed between Buangor and Ararat, including reduced speed limits and improved signage, “to help reduce risk while longer-term upgrades are delivered.”
Planning for the Ararat–Stawell section is continuing. Big Build Roads said work to date has included reviewing and, where necessary, updating previous VicRoads technical studies, designs and approvals “in line with current design requirements, legislation and industry standards.”
On the federal side, Infrastructure Minister Catherine King’s office said the Albanese Government had committed an additional $100 million to the project following an infrastructure review in 2023, taking the Commonwealth’s total commitment for the Ballarat–Stawell duplication to $958 million.
“This is a dangerous stretch of road, and its upgrade is vital,” Minister King said.
“The Albanese Government is committed to making this section of the Western Highway safer for the locals, truckdrivers and tourists who use it every day.
“The Victorian Government is delivering this project and the Albanese Government’s funding remains budgeted and ready to flow as works can be delivered.”
However, when asked what it would now cost to complete the remaining duplication — and whether existing funding is sufficient at current construction prices — neither government provided an updated total estimate.
The questions also sought confirmation of how much funding is currently allocated and unspent for Buangor–Ararat and Ararat–Stawell, and what is preventing construction on the unduplicated sections. The responses did not address those matters.
Funding commitments for the Ballarat–Stawell corridor date back to at least 2009. Duplication has been completed to Buangor, but planned sections west of Buangor have been under discussion for more than a decade.
Governments say safety remains a priority and that funding is in place.
But without a confirmed construction restart date, an updated cost estimate, or a completion year for the remaining works, the timeline for duplicating the Western Highway between Buangor and Stawell remains unclear.
It remains a single-carriageway highway carrying more than 6,000 vehicles a day, including around 1,500 trucks — the road so many locals will drive tomorrow.
Haylett: Works must begin “as quickly as they can”
Labor Member for Ripon Martha Haylett says she wants duplication works on the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat to begin as soon as possible, describing the stretch as “far too dangerous”.
“I want works on the Western Highway to begin as quickly as they can. The stretch between Buangor and Ararat is far too dangerous, and the loss of life there is devastating,” Ms Haylett said.
“Getting this project moving is one of my top priorities so we can make the Western Highway safer and more reliable for everyone who uses it.”
Ms Haylett said she understood community concern about safety while longer-term upgrades remain in planning.
“Significant planning work is already underway, and in the meantime, I’ve pushed for more immediate safety measures — including lower speed limits and improved signage — to reduce the risk to drivers.”
Her comments come as both tiers of government reaffirm their commitment to duplicating the remaining section of the highway west of Buangor, but have not provided a confirmed construction restart date or completion year for the project.
Webster: Western Highway delays frustrating communities
FEDERAL Member for Mallee Anne Webster says communities across the Grampians and Pyrenees regions are increasingly frustrated by ongoing delays to the Western Highway duplication project.
“The Stawell, Grampians and Pyrenees communities are frustrated at the delays to progress with the Western Highway duplication project on a major freight and passenger route that rates very poorly on safety measures,” Dr Webster said.
She said the section between Buangor and Ararat had been stalled for years.
“The section of this project between Buangor and Ararat has been on hold for a very long time, even though the Beaufort to Buangor section – and Buangor Bypass – were completed when the Coalition was in federal government in 2016.”
Dr Webster said she had sought answers from federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King about progress on the project.
“I have sought updates from Minister King about further progress on this project numerous times in the last twelve months without any direct response.”
Dr Webster criticised both state and federal Labor governments over the delays.
“Labor are blame-shifting and shirking their responsibilities at federal and state level, particularly their inability to ensure red and green tape is managed in a timely way.”
McCracken: Western Highway delay a “no-brainer” failure
LIBERAL Member for Western Victoria Region Joe McCracken says duplication of the Western Highway west of Buangor should already be underway, describing the project as “a no-brainer”.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the duplication works should be happening – it’s a no-brainer,” Mr McCracken said.
His comments come after both the Commonwealth and Victorian governments reaffirmed their commitment to duplicating the remaining section of highway between Buangor and Stawell, but did not provide a confirmed construction restart date or completion year.
Mr McCracken criticised the Victorian Government’s infrastructure priorities, arguing regional projects were being overlooked.
“My worry is that the Government talk a ‘big game’ about their ‘big build’, but all they have are ‘big excuses’,” he said.
“We’ve seen billions pumped into Melbourne on projects like the Suburban Rail Loop, the West Gate Tunnel and the recently announced airport rail link – when will country Victoria get its fair share?”
Mr McCracken said he believed political considerations were contributing to delays.
“Labor are all about buying votes with taxpayer funds, and the simple fact of the matter is that there are more votes to buy in Melbourne than there are in country Victoria,” he said.
“It’s a simple, cold, callous political calculation.”