Regional roads funding in the spotlight

The National’s candidate for Bass, Brett Tessari said roads in the electorate will be safer for all motorists, after the Liberals and Nationals announced $10 billion in funding over 10 years to fix Victoria’s crumbling road system.

The funding increase will be delivered through the annual road asset management budget, increasing spending from around $600 million to $1 billion annually.

Announcing the commitment on Wednesday, Shadow Minister for roads Danny O’Brien said after almost a decade of government neglect roads have gone from bad to worse.

“The government has left Victoria’s road network crumbling, ignoring the genuine concern of road users across the state, in both the city and the country,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Labor cut the road maintenance budget by 10 per cent when it came to government and, on top of recent wet years, our roads have never recovered.

“This $10 billion investment will deliver longer-term contracts to promote innovation, give contractors certainty to invest in better equipment and allow for strategic maintenance planning.”

As part of this investment, there will also be a review of construction standards, increasing accountability of VicRoads and contractors and a reduction in red and green tape that often escalates construction costs.

There will also be an audit of all state-managed roads.

The Nationals Candidate for Bass, Brett Tessari, said The Nationals are committed to delivering better, safer roads.

“Driving around the electorate I’ve seen first-hand how dilapidated parts of our roads are – roads such as the Phillip Island Road – and it’s only getting worse,” Mr Tessari said.

“Country Victorians rely on roads and this $10 billion means our local roads will be better maintained – better country roads save lives.”

Certainty needed

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) called on both sides of politics to commit funding certainty for regional road maintenance declaring the terrible condition of country roads has reached crisis levels.

“More than 50 per cent of all road fatalities occur in regional Victoria, despite it being home to 24 per cent of the State’s population. We won’t accept that,” VFF President Emma Germano said.

As part of its ‘Fair Go for Regional Victoria’ campaign, the VFF has called for a minimum of $2 billion over the next four years for targeted arterial road maintenance. 

The plan has been supported by the State Opposition, but with less than two months until the Victorian State Election, regional communities are waiting to hear the Andrews Government’s plan.

“It’s time for our leaders to stand-up and put an end to the country road maintenance crisis. Driving on safe roads is a top priority for regional communities at this election and we need both sides of politics to deliver certainty,” Ms Germano said.