Overview
- Hepburn Shire Council will shut the Albert Street–Midland Highway junction to vehicles after securing more than $1 million from the federal Black Spot Program, which backs fixes at high‑risk road sites.
- The redesign will extend the green space across the roadway with raised crossings, new safety barriers, brighter lighting, clearer signs, and better separation between people and traffic.
- Council leaders plan a year of detailed design, permits, procurement, and further community input, with construction not expected until 2027–28.
- Public feedback in 2025 was split over closing the road, and nearby businesses warn of lost parking and harder deliveries as the council reviews outdoor dining rules and the Royal Daylesford Hotel’s permit due to expire at the end of June.
- A coronial inquest into the 2023 crash is underway after charges against the driver were dropped, and officials say any findings could shape the final design.