Funding needed to reduce crash risk by 65 per cent at deadly intersection

The Pyrenees Shire Council is pushing for more funding to install a roundabout at a rural intersection west of Ballarat where a young family was killed six months ago, with a report showing a 65 per cent crash reduction.

A three-year-old boy and his parents died in the fatal crash on November 11, 2025 when a car and truck collided at the intersection of Eurambeen-Streatham Road and Mount William Road, Stoneleigh.

Funding has been approved for a staggered T-intersection, but a council report cites a 30 per cent crash reduction factor compared to a 65 per cent reduction if a roundabout were installed.

In the months before the tragic crash, the council submitted a Black Spot grant application to upgrade the intersection to make it staggered, at a cost of $856,000.

In late November 2025, the council moved to request a variation to turn the intersection into a roundabout, costing $3 million.

But a council report showed a crash reduction factor of 65 per cent for a roundabout compared to 30 per cent for the staggered T-intersection.

A letter was sent to Black Spot coordinators requesting an increase in funding for a roundabout on May 5, 2026.

"There is a key grain storage facility at this location. There is a lot of truck use on these roads."

Mr Gowans said a report supported the installation of a roundabout, citing a crash reduction factor of 65 per cent for a roundabout compared to 30 per cent for the staggered T-intersection.

"We're all aware of this triple fatality that occurred at this intersection and the impact that has had on the community. We're very conscious of that. We want to do everything we can to avoid similar accidents from happening in the future," he said.

Mr Gowans the council had spoken to the Department of Transport representatives in relation to why the roundabout option was not approved.