News

Roads | January 22, 2016

Borung Hwy reduced to 80kph – what’s next?

Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy has expressed continued disappointment in the State Labor Government following a section of the Borung Highway being reduced to an 80km speed limit due to its poor condition.

“I’ve heard that an appalling section of the Borung Highway between Dimboola and Warracknabeal has now been reduced to a permanent 80km speed limit,” Ms Kealy said.

“One can only ask what will happen next? Will it be further speed reductions or will it take the loss of a life before the State Labor Government will address the deteriorating condition of roads across the Lowan Electorate,” she said.

Emma Kealy MP has provided countless examples to the State Labor Government for the urgent need to fund and improve the atrocious condition of roads across Western Victoria.

“The Melbourne Andrews Labor Government has continued to ignore country communities. They must understand how important roads are in regional Victoria, and it’s disappointing that the dire need for funding continues to be ignored.

“Failure to maintain road surfaces to a safe standard presents an unnecessary and unacceptable danger to local families, commercial drivers and other commuters using our rural and regional roads.

“Families and businesses also suffer financially when roads are not maintained to a safe standard, through physical damage to vehicles,” she said.

Emma Kealy launched a campaign last year to improve the deteriorating condition of our country roads with a ‘Call to Action’ for locals to report hazards directly to VicRoads.

“If everyone can report road hazards directly to VicRoads this will give them the evidence to demand additional State funding to better manage and maintain our roads,” Ms Kealy said.

“I urge everyone to report any road hazards directly to VicRoads by phoning 13 11 70 or visit my website http://www.emmakealy.com/road_hazards.

“We need more money invested in country roads, not less. However, the State budget confirmed that Labor have cut 10 per cent from the road asset management budget and have scrapped the Coalition’s $160 million Country Roads and Bridges program,” she said.