Chief Executive's Message
Reflecting on the past year, VicRoads has supported communities and businesses to connect and work together in ways that enhance the liveability of our State.
The resilience of our state infrastructure, including roads, has been severely tested in recent years with damaging rains after a long drought and devastating floods and fires. Our road network and the services it supports have stood up under these pressures and demand from a growing population thanks in part to the know-how and dedication of VicRoads' staff, our contractors and partners. This performance did not come at the expense of safety as we saw our lowest ever road toll in 2010 at a rate which compares among the best in the world. We are especially proud to play an important role in improving road safety as we enter the United Nation’s Decade of Action for Road Safety.
Flood recovery
The destructive floods Victoria experienced in September 2010 were the worst in at least 15 years and were amplified further by flooding events in December, January and again in February 2011. These events created widespread damage across the state involving hundreds of road closures, major landslips and bridge washaways.
The floods greatly impacted the ability of Victorians to move about our state and to start the clean-up. I commend all the staff involved in recovery efforts over the past 10 months – it has been a super effort that helped the community regain its vital connections. Since the peak of the flood event, 56 arterial roads and 256 local Council roads have reopened. At the time of writing, only 10 arterial roads remained closed.
The consequential longer term impact on the arterial road network will not be known for some time, however significant renewal work will be required over the next two years to ensure that roads are kept in a safe and maintainable condition.
Innovation in congestion and network management
Melbourne drivers can look forward to quicker, safer and less frustrating driving. In June 2011, a fifth lane opened across the West Gate Bridge in each direction to address congestion. The Freeway Management System, including overhead Lane Use Management System, which ensures safe and effective traffic management in the event of an incident, extends across the Bridge to help manage traffic flow for the 75km M1 corridor between Werribee and Narre Warren.
We have already observed improvements in traffic flow as a result of the new lanes with substantial reductions in delays and reduced travel times along this corridor during morning and afternoon peaks.
Motorists travelling between Melbourne, Ballarat and beyond are now able to avoid the tight curves of Anthonys Cutting thanks to the new Western Freeway alignment. The project team completed the freeway section of this Nation Building Program initiative between Melton and Bacchus Marsh nine months ahead of schedule. The new freeway provides safer road conditions plus reduced travel times and transport costs.
Road Safety
Victoria saw its lowest road toll on record in 2010 with 288 fatalities, two fewer than in 2009. The number of serious injuries recorded in 2010 was 4,946, which was 1,305 fewer than 2009. This was the best road safety record of all Australian states in 2010.
New anti-hoon laws were introduced to target dangerous drivers. The Road Safety Amendment (Hoon Driving and Other Matters) Bill was effective from 1 July 2011. Our challenge over the next four years is to reduce the number of young drivers who engage in hoon behaviour. Vehicle impoundment legislation saves lives on Victorian roads by removing dangerous drivers from the roads.
Customer Service – smarter, better, together
VicRoads customer service satisfaction research reveals 90 per cent of customers were satisfied with registration and licensing services.
While we are proud of our efforts in maintaining strong customer service levels, despite an increase in transaction volume, further improvements are still needed. The past year has had its challenges in terms of service delivery and VicRoads' staff have worked together effectively to manage the challenges on a journey towards providing exceptional registration and licensing services to customers.
Several business initiatives have been identified and work has already commenced on some in support of our plan to deliver quality registration and licensing services in a challenging and fast moving environment.
Contributing to Australia’s road reform
VicRoads continued to play a major role in supporting strategic national reforms to realise productivity and efficiency gains, particularly in relation to heavy vehicles. This past year, I’ve been privileged to chair the COAG Road Reform Plan (CRRP) Project Board, which is undertaking a feasibility study of mass-distance-location based pricing of heavy vehicles. The objective of the study is to promote more efficient, productive and sustainable provision and use of national freight infrastructure. VicRoads also worked with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Project Office and the National Transport Commission to progress the establishment of a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator by the end of next year.
Appreciation to our stakeholders and partners
Over the past 12 months, VicRoads’ staff have demonstrated skill and expertise in delivering our diverse range of services, especially during the Victorian flood response, and projects and programs worth in excess of $2 billion. We haven’t done this alone as our partners in many public and private sector organisations have made a considerable contribution in the past year and I’d like to extend my sincere thanks. I also thank members of the various advisory councils and committees for their valued contribution to the safe and reliable operation and development of our transport system.
We have capable and proven partnerships, which equip us well to deliver the Government’s road transport priorities in the future. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities of the year ahead.
Gary Liddle
Chief Executive