News

Roads | August 25, 2016

Kealy – South West roads funding not enough

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP says roads funding announced today is long overdue and does not make up for the drastic cuts Labor has made to the country roads and bridges program.

“Today a $44 million roads safety upgrade and resurfacing announcement was made to address roads within the South West region of Victoria, a fraction of the amount the Melbourne Labor Government have cut from the country roads budget,” Ms Kealy said.

“The condition of our country roads is simply not good enough. Labor has drastically cut the road asset maintenance budget by 10% and scrapped the successful Nationals Country Roads and Bridges program, which just demonstrates that this Melbourne Labor Government is completely out of touch with the needs of country Victorians.

“This announcement doesn’t address the appalling condition of roads right across Western Victoria including the Wimmera and Mallee regions. Country people deserve safe roads.

“This funding will not touch the sides of the extensive road repairs needed across the South West network. The Labor Government have still failed to announce any additional funding for Wimmera and Mallee roads which are washing away with increased rainfall,” she said.

Emma Kealy MP has written to the Premier and the Minister for Roads on countless occasions, lodged a petition, spoken in Parliament and called on locals to help report hazards directly to VicRoads.

“I urge local people to keep reporting all road hazards to VicRoads which can be done through my website www.emmakealy.com or by phoning 13 11 70. This will help give VicRoads the data they need to demonstrate that more funding is needed to respond to road hazard reports,” Ms Kealy said.

“Again, I call on the Labor Government to reverse their drastic cuts to the country roads budget and I assure the Lowan electorate that I will continue to lobby this city centric State Government so that country people receive their fair share of roads funding,” she said.