State of roads features heavily during hearing

Sep 19, 2023

**Road review:** Member for Shepparton and deputy chair of the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee Kim O’Keeffe with committee chair Alison Marchant during the inquiry hearing.

State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe says the condition of the region’s roads was a common point of discussion when a parliamentary inquiry sat in Shepparton recently.

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Ms O’Keeffe is the deputy chair of the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee, which heard from organisations and individuals during a hearing in Shepparton on Wednesday, September 13.

“Locals have major concerns about the state of the roads, which is making driving more dangerous for the entire community,” Ms O’Keeffe said after the hearing.

“Many of those who presented to the hearing raised their concerns with the appalling and unsafe conditions of our roads, including the dangerous potholes that are putting more lives at risk.”

The committee is investigating how road safety behaviours have changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and how changes have impacted vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycle riders, children, older people and mobility device users.

Representatives from Greater Shepparton City Council, Cool Heads Driver Program, RoadSafe Goulburn Valley, Greater Shepparton Bicycle User Group, Goulburn Valley Motorcycle Club, Greater Shepparton Secondary College, Shepparton Search and Rescue, Goulburn Valley Family Care, ConnectGV and primary schools and seniors groups gave evidence to the inquiry.

“The out-of-date transport network not meeting the growth of the region was another common issue raised, which included the need for a bus review and the progression of the Shepparton bypass,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

“It was really wonderful to have such a broad range of people presenting from students, seniors and the many varied organisations.”

The hearing was one of two parliamentary inquiries to visit Greater Shepparton on Wednesday.

The second was the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee’s inquiry into the 2022 flood event in Victoria.

“The opportunity to host both important hearings in our region is so significant, particularly with the ongoing flood recovery and the alarming rate of serious incidents on regional roads,” she said.

“It is critical that our region has a voice, and the different circumstances of regional Victoria are understood, and that those that are impacted have the opportunity to contribute to the reports and future outcomes.”