Shire of Harvey votes on way forward for work on Government Road intersections amid Main Roads limitations

The Shire of Harvey has finally voted on a plan to improve safety at two busy intersections after six previous options were knocked back. The shire has been investigating realigning the western end of Uduc Road in Harvey to create a direct link between it and Forestry Road. Those wanting to travel between the Harvey townsite and Forrest Highway are required to navigate two intersections 120m apart on Government Road. The council had created three proposals, with support from Harvey Beef, which would have seen a land swap enable Uduc Road and Forestry Road to join on to each other and become the main route. But all were rejected by Main Roads due to concerns about the ability of road users on Government Road to see oncoming traffic from a distance. Three further options were drafted to better suit Main Roads’ requirements but were deemed either too expensive for the council or not supported by Harvey Beef. A final seventh option was approved by the council following support from Main Roads, which could see Government Road’s speed limit drop from 110km/h to 80km/h and speed humps installed around the Forestry and Uduc road intersections. Turning lanes are also planned to be built for traffic needing to exit Government Road. Cr Robyn Coleman said there were concerns the change could create more confusion. “At the moment, people speed anyway whether we like it or not, so trying to lower the speed limit is not going to make an ounce of difference in reality,” she said. Cr Tiny Holly wanted the council to try to convince Main Roads to take one of three options originally proposed by the shire. “It’s pretty basic, what should be done, and why can’t we push forward to make it happen a bit better than what it is at the moment,” he said. But council officers said Main Roads was set on its position, stating any further push for a change was unlikely to be successful. The vote was carried 8-3, with Cr Coleman, Cr Holly and Cr Joe Capogreco voting against. Plans will now go to detailed design.