Daylesford Turns Tragic Site Into Green Space for Healing

The intersection where five people lost their lives in Daylesford, Victoria, is getting a second chance as a place of peace instead of pain.

In November 2023, a tragic crash at Albert Street and Midland Highway claimed the lives of Pratibha Sharma, her nine-year-old daughter Anvi, her partner Jatin Kumar, and their friends Vivek Bhatia and his 11-year-old son Vihaan. The families were dining outside The Royal Daylesford Hotel when the accident occurred.

Now, the federal government has committed more than $1 million through the Black Spots Program to completely reimagine the space. The intersection will close to traffic and transform into a green pedestrian area with safety barriers, improved signage, and widened pathways.

Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King explained that the Black Spots Program targets dangerous road locations across Australia. This year alone, the $150 million initiative is funding more than 280 safety improvements at high-risk sites nationwide.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this project special is how the community shaped it. In August 2025, Hepburn Shire residents voted on their preferred design for the intersection improvements.

Mayor Tony Clark says the chosen solution does more than prevent future accidents. It activates the space for community use and creates green areas that residents specifically requested. The plan will come to life through continued collaboration with locals and businesses.

The transformation sends a powerful message about how communities can turn tragedy into action. Instead of leaving the site as a painful reminder, Daylesford is creating something that serves everyone who lives in or visits the town.

King emphasized that locals understand which roads feel unsafe in their communities. She's encouraging residents across Australia to nominate dangerous sites for future Black Spots Program funding rounds, turning local knowledge into lifesaving improvements.

For Daylesford's 3,000 residents and the many tourists who visit this popular Victorian destination, the new green space represents both a memorial and a promise of safer streets ahead.