Concerned: State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe is urging road users to take care.
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Recent wet weather has left its mark on Victoria’s already deteriorating regional roads, leading to increased dangers for drivers.
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Potholes and other hazards are becoming more common, increasing the risks motorists face every day.
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe said she was concerned about the dangerous state of the roads and questioned the Victorian Government’s continued cuts to the annual road maintenance budget.
“It is hard to believe the dangerous conditions drivers are navigating, or that the state’s annual road maintenance budget continued to be cut,” she said.
With the weather conditions worsening the state of the roads, Ms O’Keeffe highlighted that more potholes were emerging and “significantly dangerous” portions of roads and highways were going without repairs.
“How bad does it have to get before this government understands that they are putting lives at risk?” she said.
The state of the roads is more than just a talking point; it’s affecting the lives of Victorians daily.
“I understand drivers’ frustration, with many reports of damage to cars, broken rims and seals, and permanent speed reductions in place in some areas because the surface of the road is so unsafe,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
Degradation: Damaged road surfaces and potholes in Mooroopna.
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She also said community members had contacted her office about the “constant degradation” of local roads, and that the underlying issue was the evident lack of substantial investment in maintenance and urgent repairs.
“Under Labor, we have seen the annual roads maintenance budget slashed by $380 million, or 45 per cent, since 2020,” she said.
“Without genuine and significant investment in maintenance and urgent repairs, roads and highways will continue to deteriorate.”
In addition to criticising the Victorian Government, Ms O’Keeffe also criticised the Federal Government’s financial decisions.
“We are seeing an alarming trend of funding cuts on fundamental regional roads infrastructure,” she said.
“Victorians are being punished, and taxpayers are paying for Labor’s financial incompetence.”
“Appalling condition”: State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe says she will continue to push for urgently needed funding to repair and maintain regional roads.
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However, Ms O’Keeffe said she remained “committed to continuing to lobby for adequate funding for regional roads”.
“This government must address the declining and appalling condition of our roads before more lives are lost,” she said.
She also said she would continue liaising with Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne “to ensure that she is well aware of the impact this is having on our electorate”.
The Victorian Government was contacted for comment.
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