The repair of dangerous flood damaged, pot-holed and crumbling roads across Northern Victoria
must become an urgent priority for the State Government, Nationals MP Gaelle Broad has told
Parliament.
Ms Broad said she was shocked by the terrible state of the roads as she drives around Northern
Victoria.
“As I drive across the region, there are still many uneven roads with deep potholes in need of repair,
and the only work done in the past 10 months is to put up signs reducing the speed limit to 40 and
advising ‘rough surface’.”
Ms Broad said Victorians were required to drive roadworthy vehicles and the Government had
collected a record $2.5 billion from vehicle registration in the past year.
“We expect the State Government to provide roads that are safe to drive on – but our roads are
anything but safe.
“Hidden bumps and potholes are extremely dangerous for motorcyclists. In the last five years almost
200 motorcycle riders and pillion passengers have been killed on Victorian roads. 78 per cent were in
Regional Victoria.
“At a meeting of the Loddon Campaspe Group of Councils last week a point was made that just one
overpass built in Melbourne would be enough to repair flood damaged roads across the whole of the
Loddon Shire.”
Ms Broad said two major state government road programs worth more than $750 million, will only
roll out in Labor seats. The Road Blitz to get Families Home Sooner and Safer Scheme, and
Delivering Better Local Roads program, will provide some nice upgrades for motorists, cyclists and
pedestrians in Melbourne, but in regional areas road upgrades are a necessity, she said.
“Everywhere I go in regional Victoria residents raise concerns about the poor condition of the roads.
“Yet Labor has cut the road maintenance funding by 45 per cent since 2020.
“It’s nearly 12 months since the floods, and while the State Government powers ahead with their
level crossing removals in the city, regional areas are still waiting for basic repairs to roads damaged
by the floods.
“I ask the Minister to prioritise repairs to flood damaged roads, and to allocate more funding for road
maintenance in rural and regional areas.”
Photo caption: Gaelle Broad MP inspects crumbling roads with Nationals leader Peter Walsh and Shadow Roads Minister Danny O’Brien.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
