Have Your Say – Draft Road Safety Strategy

Published on 12 May 2026

Colac Otway community members are invited to have their say on Council’s Draft Road Safety Strategy, now on exhibition.

The Draft Strategy outlines a 10-year, shire-wide approach to improving road safety, reducing trauma and making roads safer for all users including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

The Draft Strategy was developed from extensive community and stakeholder consultation which included drop-in sessions in Birregurra, Colac and Apollo Bay during October 2025 and consultation with 25 regional stakeholders.

Council also conducted an online survey which attracted 60 responses with 29 participants identifying 91 locations of concern on an interactive map.

General Manager Infrastructure and Environment Doug McNeill said Council is now seeking further community input before the Strategy is finalised. 

“Road safety affects everyone, and we want residents and ratepayers to have their say on the Draft Strategy to help improve safety outcomes across our shire.”

“Importantly, the Draft has already been shaped by strong community input and collaboration with regional partners. This exhibition period gives people an opportunity to see how the Strategy has come together, provide one final opportunity to raise any issues and let us know if there is anything that we have missed,” Mr McNeill said.

The Draft Road Safety Strategy is supported by an Action Plan containing 19 short, ongoing and long-term actions across 5 key themes.

Actions identified work toward reducing the number of fatal and serious injury incidents in the shire based on existing data, consultation and crash assessments undertaken.

“The Strategy is intended to guide the shire’s road safety planning and initiatives, inform future capital works programs and strengthen Council’s position when advocating to State and Federal Government.

“We are interested to hear the community’s thoughts to help us shape safer roads and better outcomes for road users,” Mr McNeill said.

The Strategy was developed with $50,000 in funding from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) through its Local Government Grant Program.

Have your say on the Draft Road Safety Strategy, now on exhibition on Council’s website Draft Road Safety Strategy - Colac Otway Shire. Hard copies are also available to view at Council’s Customer Service Centres in Colac and Apollo Bay. Submissions close at 5pm Wednesday 10 June 2026.