News

Roads | June 20, 2019

Road maintenance funds diluted to fix wire rope barriers

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is concerned that money meant to fix potholes in country roads, crumbling road shoulders and to cut roadside grass is being used to repair damaged wire rope barriers instead.

Ms Kealy said her constituents living in the Lowan electorate would be alarmed to learn that the meagre financial resources allocated to fixing their roads by the Andrews Labor Government was being further diluted.

Under questioning at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) recently, VicRoads CEO Robyn Seymour revealed that repairs to wire rope barriers that have sustained damage are being funded from VicRoads routine maintenance funds as well as the TAC.

“Previously we’ve been advised that repair of barriers was fully funded by the TAC, which we all pay for through third party insurance on our car registrations,” Ms Kealy said.

“To hear that the VicRoads maintenance fund is also being plundered to repair barriers is a concern, particularly after the botched roll-out by the Labor Government.

“Roadside barriers can be life-savers when placed in the right spot, but there have been major mistakes in their placement and location, with many placed too close to the road and hampering access for emergency services.

“As the rollout of wire rope barriers continues it can be expected that maintenance costs will also rise, further diluting money for actual road works.

“Many roads in the Lowan electorate are riddled with potholes and crumbling shoulders, with locals regularly reporting damage to vehicles and agricultural machinery.

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

“The RACV has named western Victoria as having the worst roads in Victoria.

“How many more potholes will go unfixed, how many roadsides will have dangerously long grass because money is being spent on fixing wire rope barriers?

 “Lowan residents just want our roads fixed properly to give locals the roads they are entitled to and deserve.”