Victorian farmers welcome additional funding for stock pass program

The United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV), the dairy commodity of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), has welcomed the recent announcement by the State Government to provide an additional $1.5 million for the Stock Over/Underpass Road Safety (SOURS) Program.

UDV President Chris Griffin said that the boost in funding would help more dairy farmers build stock over and underpasses, which were now seen as critical infrastructure to assist in maintaining a safe and effective farm work place.

“The SOURS Program has been a highly successful partnership between the VFF and Regional Development Victoria (RDV), resulting in approximately $9.1 million of funding to build 434 new stock over and underpasses since 2000,” Mr Griffin said.

“The safety of farmers and the motoring public on roads where farmers cross stock on a regular basis has been a key concern of the VFF and UDV for many years. The UDV has played an integral role in the development and implementation of this program and the recent announcement of extra funding will continue this great work.

“The continuation of the SOURS Program will improve the safety of rural roads for the motoring public and farming families and their employees who regularly take stock across arterials. It is also an investment which saves time and ensures the safety of stock. It is fantastic to see an extra 55 stock passes will be built over the next three years.

“Dairy farmers who have had a stock pass fitted on their property have reported greater safety when moving stock around local roads, and we look forward to the continuation of this partnership,” Mr Griffin concluded.