VICTORIAN Liberals leader Matthew Guy and South West Coast MP Roma Britnell were on the notorious Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road to announce a $1 billion spend, per year, for ten years, if they win the next state election.
Continually deteriorating road conditions is the number one issue of concern with country people.
Local residents have been campaigning for many years to get this road upgraded, to safely carry both cars and heavy transports. The road is a designated B Double transport route between Geelong and Mount Gambier. There have been many accidents on this road; where poor road conditions have been a contributing factor. Despite this, the road has had very little real work done.
Broadwater CFA Captain Hugh McFarlane has attended many accidents over the years on this road.
“The roads in this whole area are atrocious. These conditions lead to accidents, and they make it difficult for the CFA to do their job safely. Lowering the speed limits is not fixing the roads,” Capt McFarlane said.
Liberal leader Matthew Guy said: “Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road was a prime example of the deteriorating road network throughout Victoria, and particularly here in the south-west. Road maintenance funding has been cut by the Andrews Labour Government over the last couple of years with $200 million being removed – what that has done in consequence, is that our roads are falling apart – not just in outer Melbourne but in country and regional Victoria. The roads are falling apart. No matter what lies they tell – these roads are falling apart. To address this issue, coming into government – a Coalition government will spend $1 billion per year – every year for 10 years – we are going to fix the problem – we cannot let this go on. There are no more excuses – the government has had eight years to fix this – they are dangerous and a safety risk - our plan will go a long way to fixing this problem.”
Mr Guy acknowledged that the road toll – particularly in country areas – has climbed considerably and he said this could be directly linked to the “unsafe and treacherous condition our roads have gotten to”.
Local MP Roma Britnell said: “The $1 billion per year for 10 years is only one part of the plan. We need to make those who build our roads more accountable – we need to ensure that they are built to a standard that will last years, not crumble within days. We need to make sure that the roads are built to a standard, and we will make sure that those standards are adhered to. We need to make sure that the work is held to account – and that’s what we will do. We will make sure those roads last for decades, so this situation doesn’t happen again.”
Ms Britnell introduced Adam Fry to the crowd. Both Adam and his brother Matt Fry have both had car accidents on the Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road due to the poor road conditions.
Adam, 32, had his pelvis broken in five places and spent weeks in hospital recovering. He explained that there had been no real work done to improve the road in his lifetime.
“It’s been like this all my life and my father’s too. With all the heavy vehicles that use this road, it’s not fit for purpose. Unfortunately, I think it’s going to take someone to die before anything is done.”
Ms Britnell said: “I can assure you Adam, the Liberals are listening, and we are making a commitment to fix this and many other rural roads if we are elected to govern at the next election.”
