A NEW campaign to expose Victoria’s worst roads has been launched by the Victorian Opposition to name the state’s worst roads.
State opposition leader, Matthew Guy and Roads shadow minister, Steph Ryan, have launched the three-month campaign to find Victoria’s worst roads and will seek safety reports straight from drivers.
Victorians are encouraged to submit road condition reports as they travel the state via an online portal in an effort to build a list of the roads most in need of maintenance.
“Decades of neglect has left Victoria’s roads rough and potholed, risking the lives of motorcyclists, car drivers and truckies every single day,” Mr Guy said.
“There have been 76 lives lost on Victorian roads already this year, but Labor is spending less on maintaining and repairing the state’s roads network.
“Meanwhile, the Andrews Labor Government has found more than $24 billion to pour into plugging its cost overruns on poorly managed major projects.
The State Government carved nearly $200 million from road asset maintenance in last year’s State Budget alone, a 25 per cent reduction to $616 million.
Since elected in 2014, the government has also axed funds for targeted maintenance of local roads by abolishing the Country Roads and Bridges Program and disbanded the joint parliamentary committee that had overseen road safety since 1967.
Ms Ryan said Victorian drivers had an important role to play in exposing the problems.
“Instead of fixing roads that are falling apart, State Labor favours a cheap, band-aid fix with lower speed limits,” she said.
“We’ll be seeking reports direct from local communities, councils, farmers and community groups as we search for Victoria’s worst roads.
“Fixing the maintenance backlog won’t be an easy task – as the Victorian Auditor-General says, poorly-maintained roads cost more to repair, cost motorists more in fuel and in vehicle repairs, on top of the safety risk.
“Properly maintained roads are safer roads. Only a change in government in November will stop Labor’s neglect as we work to recover and rebuild.”
To nominate the worst road, visit the online portal at vicsworstroad.vote.
