A new road safety campaign has been launched to find the worst roads in Latrobe Valley.
The three-month campaign to Vote for Victoria’s Worst Road asks motorists to submit first-hand condition reports via an online portal to list the most dangerous hazards risking lives on our roads every single day.
Victorians will then be asked to vote for the worst roads on the list, which will then be handed to Victoria’s Roads Minister to highlight priority areas for maintenance funds.
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath said many roads across Latrobe Valley were notorious for potholes, uneven surfaces and crumbling edges with Traralgon Maffra Road being one of the local roads she will submit to the campaign to fight for a fair share of maintenance funds.
“All too often I hear from locals who are frustrated with just how rough and unsafe our neglected roads have become,” Ms Bath said.
“Multiple constituents had raised specific concerns with me about the surface of Traralgon Maffra Road constantly failing, unsafe roadsides and low-cost patch up jobs – local residents are deeply concerned for the safety of all motorists who rely on this route.
“This new road safety campaign is a crucial opportunity to highlight the worst of the neglect in Gippsland to make sure we’re a priority when funds are finally delivered for road upgrades.
“State Labor’s been in government for 19 of the past 23 years, while it’s found $24 billion to fix budget blowouts on its poorly managed major projects, it’s spent a tiny fraction of this fixing and maintaining our regional roads.”
The Andrews Labor Government cut nearly $200 million from road asset maintenance in last year’s State Budget alone, with a 25 per cent reduction down to $616 million.
Since 2014, Daniel Andrews has also axed the Country Roads and Bridges maintenance program and abolished a key joint parliamentary committee that had overseen road safety since 1967.
Deputy Leader of The National and Shadow Minister for Roads Steph Ryan has urged drivers to have their say to expose the seemingly endless regional problems.
“Properly maintained roads are safer roads,” Ms Ryan said.
“Fixing the regional roads 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.
“Only a change in Government in November will stop the waste and mismanagement, with a better managed budget delivering savings that can contribute to reversing Labor’s cuts.”
To submit a road, visit the online portal at Vicsworstroad.vote
