The 12-month delay will be used to redesign the safety upgrade and lobby even harder for boom gates over the railway tracks.
Council has allocated $80,000 to fund the redesign and put up stopgap safety measures in the meantime — such as rumble strips, traffic islands and a review of signage.
Several lives have been lost at the intersection.
The site is known for its large power substation, which blocks visibility, and the close railway line, which make it impossible for large trucks to stop for trains without blocking the main road.
The intersection is in dire need of a safety upgrade, but when the initial safety upgrade was displayed community feedback was negative.
Cr Ed Cox sought to reassure residents the intersection wasn’t forgotten.
"When the original design did come out, there was a fair bit of community angst about the design works,” he said.
“So I’m really pleased we’re going to look at it again and I want to reassure the community it is not going to be shelved for ever and ever.”
The initial safety upgrade was designed in August 2022 and tendered in September 2022.
Seven local sub-contractors quoted the job, but even the cheapest quote was still 30 per cent higher than the allocated budget.
During this tender period, council discovered the intersection’s bitumen wasn’t up to scratch and needed to be redone, adding more expense.
All nine Moira Shire councillors voted to defer the project until 2023/24 and spend $80,000 on the redesign and short-term safety measures.
Cr Wayne Limbrick said there were some “serious complex issues” around the substation and rail crossing.
“It’s a very dangerous intersection and while it is a pity to see it pushed back, I think there has been significant queries raised around the original design,” he said.
“We need to look at a serious long-term solution that will give us a safe and enduring solution rather than going off with a plan that maybe isn’t ideal.”
Cr John Beitzel moved the recommendation, but said he wasn’t “entirely comfortable” with the deferment because the intersection upgrade was so important.
“It’s a dangerous intersection that has quite a few issues with it,” Cr Beitzel said.
“Obviously we’re dealing with the likes of VicRoads and VicTrack and land acquisition, and we have a power station in the middle of it.”
Cr Judy Heather said she hoped the community would be supportive of the 12-month delay.
"I’ve seen some concerns to the safety of the current design so I think more work needs to be put into (the design) to make it a safer place to turn, drive and live,” Cr Heather said.
“So I hope the community don’t get too annoyed that it’s not being done (immediately).”
Council made the decision at its September 28 meeting.
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