10 people died on Moira Shire’s roads last year, the highest number since the shire was formed in 1994.
Photo by
MILAN VASICEK
When four people died in a horrific crash near Katamatite just before Christmas, it brought the number of fatalities on Moira Shire’s roads in 2025 to 10, the worst year for road deaths since the shire was formed in 1994.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
More than a month after the crash, the circumstances are still to be determined and the investigation is ongoing.
Chair administrator, Dr Graeme Emonson said road safety was a growing concern in the shire, especially given the region’s role as a key transport corridor for agriculture and freight.
“Our roads are used by a wide mix of vehicles from family cars to heavy farm machinery and we need to make sure they’re safe for everyone,” he said.
At it’s December meeting, Moira Shire Council adopted the Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan 2025–2030 and committed $220,000 a year, factored into its 10-year financial plan, to urgently address road trauma across the shire.
The plan involves a comprehensive investigation of road risks across the Shire, a safety assessment of all intersections, and a prioritized list of works based on the highest risk.
Moira Shire Council chair administrator Dr Graeme Emonson says the answers lie not just in infrastructure, but in education, enforcement, and working together.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Road trauma costs the Shire $51.4 million each year and the report to council acknowledges the need for significant ongoing funding, partnerships with state and federal governments, and cooperation from the community.
“This strategy outlines practical actions to improve road design, support safer speeds, promote safer vehicles, and encourage safer behaviour,” Dr Emonson said.
“It’s not just about infrastructure, it’s about education, enforcement, and working together.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility; even one life lost is one too many.”
The plan was shaped by strong community feedback and aligns with state and national road safety goals.
It also includes partnerships with the Transport Accident Commission and other key agencies to deliver targeted improvements.
Fatalities on Moira Shire roads last year were majority caused by vehicles running off a straight road.
Between 2019 and 2023, there were 334 crashes in Moira Shire on both Victorian Government and council managed roads.
As a result, 22 people died and 136 were seriously injured.
The majority of crashed happened when vehicles ran off a straight road, followed by high-speed intersections, which was also reflected in the 2025 data.
Of the lives lost on Victorian roads last year, about half occurred on regional roads with data showing a high risk of severe crashes at high-speed intersections and a large number of uncontrolled or give way signed intersections.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner, Glenn Weir said it had been another challenging year on the state’s roads.
“The numbers are devastating, but let’s not forget that behind every number is a human life,” he said.
“Again in 2025, we have seen so many examples of the most simple and avoidable mistakes that resulted in catastrophic road trauma.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility - whether that be slowing down and travelling at the speed limit, not driving after consuming alcohol or drugs, avoiding distractions like mobile phones and ensuring everyone is wearing a properly fitted seatbelt.”
Flood damage to the Murray Valley highway has seen speed limits reduced, particularly through Bundalong, causing local traffic to divert through the rural back roads where lives were lost last year from failure to give way at high-speed intersections.
A tragic double fatality at the Hogan’s Rd intersection in March 2023, and multiple near misses and minor crashes there and at the Silverwoods Boulevard intersection have highlighted the urgent need for safety upgrades in line with recent population growth.
Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Evan Mulholland with Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy on one of Yarrawonga’s most notorious intersections.
Ovens Valley MP, Tim McCurdy has advocated for upgrades to the intersections for past three years but said the Victorian Government had not committed any money to fix the issues.
“Residents have been warning for years that these intersections are a disaster waiting to happen,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Silverwoods families are frightened; they are navigating an 80km/h zone that simply doesn’t reflect a rapidly growing residential area.
“This requires funding and it requires it now.”
With hundreds of new homes, a retirement village and surging daily commuter and construction traffic, Mr McCurdy said the risk was escalating by the month.
Late last year, he brought Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Evan Mulholland, to Yarrawonga who backed the call for urgent investment.
“This is a well-known blackspot … the risks are obvious, the community has spoken, and the evidence has been on the table for years,” Mr Mulholland said.
Mr McCurdy said reducing the speed limit was only the first step.
“Lights or a roundabout must follow,” he said.
“Every year the government delays, the danger grows; this needs immediate action, and real funding, to make these intersections safe.”
Road trauma is multifactorial in its causes.
The answers lie with all levels of government, sensible planning, adequate funding and responsible driving; or it’s only time before another family is torn apart by something which was, most likely, avoidable.
