SMEC’s role and contribution

Leveraging our expertise in Safe System-aligned road infrastructure, SMEC’s multidisciplinary team of road safety engineers, planners, designers, and survey specialists worked directly with each Council to analyse local road safety risks, identify crash trends, and prioritise  sites requiring intervention. Our tailored technical services have included optioneering, concept designs, functional design packages, feature surveys, lighting and pavement assessments, cost estimates, and the preparation of detailed design and Issue for Construction (IFC) documentation.

By late 2025, SMEC had successfully prepared and submitted Smarty Grants funding applications for multiple Councils under the $2 million funding rounds and supported several Councils with supplementary funding applications for additional road safety initiatives.

Following the funding application stage, SMEC has continued to provide detailed design services and progress projects through Issue for Tender / Issue for Construction (IFT/IFC) stages for more than a dozen Councils. All road safety projects delivered under the SLRSP are scheduled for completion by June 2027.

Innovation and lessons learned

SMEC’s team developed tailored, Safe System-aligned solutions to address the unique local challenges faced by each Council, ranging from complex terrain and legacy infrastructure to strong community priorities and varying levels of local technical capabilities.

By adopting flexible design approaches, maintaining open and transparent communication, and carefully balancing technical guidelines, funding constraints and local expectations, our team ensured that each solution delivered meaningful and measurable safety improvements. Our engineering expertise enabled Councils to maximise safety outcomes within their available budgets, translating funding into tangible, long-term community benefits.

As a result of this collaborative approach, SMEC has supported more than 20 Councils identify and deliver a pipeline of practical, data-driven road safety projects. This partnership has enabled Councils to secure significant funding for vital upgrades, accelerating the rollout of raised pedestrian crossings, intersection improvements, roundabouts, safer speed zones and enhanced local streets across Victoria.

By combining technical expertise, data-led decision making and collaborative planning, SMEC has engineered positive change for Victorian commuters. Positive impact of these efforts is already evident, with local communities experiencing safer streets and a clear path toward reducing road trauma in their neighbourhoods.