News

Roads | July 21, 2017

Kealy – Western Victoria overlooked in roads research

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP is disappointed Western Victoria has again been overlooked by the Andrew’s Labor Government, this time in a state-wide community engagement program regarding Victoria’s country road network.

VicRoads is currently visiting cities and towns in country Victoria to talk to local communities about how Government can better plan, build, manage and maintain the road network, however no forums are planned for the Lowan electorate.

“Labor has cut funding for western Victorian roads for the last three years, and now refuses to engage with the community about the appalling state of our roads,” Ms Kealy said.

“The RACV has declared roads in western Victoria are the worst in the state, so it is astonishing that our local area has been excluded from providing input to VicRoads community engagement program”, she said.

Victoria’s country arterial road network has 19,000 kilometres of road and more than 4,000 bridges – much of it built after World War Two.

“There is no doubt our crumbling roads are the biggest issue in Western Victoria, so why isn’t the Government visiting our part of the State to talk to locals about this critical issue?” Ms Kealy said.

“Many sections of the Western, Wimmera, Henty, Borung and Glenelg Highways are simply crumbling to rubble, putting local lives at risk and causing considerable damage to vehicles,” she said.

Ms Kealy continues her push for local people to keep reporting all road hazards to VicRoads via her website www.emmakealy.com or by phoning 13 11 70 to help give VicRoads the data they need to demonstrate more funding is needed to respond to road hazards in the Lowan electorate.

For more information on VicRoads state-wide community engagement program or to make an on-line contribution visit www.engage.vicroads.vic.gov.au/countryroads.