News

Roads | November 29, 2017

Immediate fix needed for dangerous country roads

In Parliament this week, Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP has again called for urgent and immediate funding to fix country roads following a fatal truck accident near Willaura last week.

“Tragically, my deep concern regarding the safety of our country roads was realised last week when a truck driver sadly lost his life on the Maroona-Glenthompson Road,” Ms Kealy said.

People on the scene of the accident have told Ms Kealy that it appears the truck has run into a six-inch drop-off at the roads shoulder, then lost control. A formal accident report and police investigation is pending.

The Maroona-Glenthompson Road is currently being used by a higher than usual number of trucks due to the closure of an alternate route at Rossbridge.

“The Andrews’ Labor Government have had over a year to ensure the Maroona-Glenthompson Road is in a suitable condition to handle additional truck traffic, but terrible road maintenance has resulted in numerous potholes and significant drop-offs on the shoulders,” Ms Kealy said.

“This road, like many roads in the Lowan electorate is simply too narrow for heavy truck traffic, is riddled with potholes and significant shoulder drop-offs, and is unsafe to be a major truck route,” she said.

Another truck accident on this same road occurred yesterday morning with reports that the driver hit a pot hole, causing the truck to roll.

“It is simply not good enough that our roads are so poorly maintained that locals are putting their lives at risk when people are just doing a job they love, taking the kids to school or going to footy or netball training,” Ms Kealy said.

“Fortunately in this instance the driver has survived and I acknowledge the excellent response by our vital Country Fire Authority volunteers from the Willaura brigade who attended both accidents. 

“Daniel Andrews and his Labor Government must immediately reverse their extensive cuts to the country roads budget and reinstate the Nationals $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Program.

“Daniel Andrews must immediately fix our country roads and save country lives,” she said.