#FixVicRoads: Congupna locals question road repairs approach after major link reduced to gravel

The Herald Sun travelled hundreds of kilometres and saw dozens of broken roads in its travels across the state — but one road, reduced to gravel in the rural town of Conpuna, was by far the worst.

Forget how many roads are being fixed — it’s time the state government reevaluates the quality of its repair methods.

That’s the call of Mooroopna resident Severin Duhring, who says brand new pothole plugs being delivered by the Allan government are dissolving within days in the Shepparton region without critical foundational works first being delivered.

“(Maintenance crews) are not stabilising the ground underneath, so in a couple of months’ time, that road is back to its original state,” Mr Duhring said.

“This has been going on now for about five years. I’ve noticed roads completely deteriorating and getting worse all the time.”

Mooroopna local Severin Duhring is calling on the Allan government to reevaluate its road maintenance strategy. Picture: Mark Stewart

Truck after truck rushing past him at the side of the torn apart Katamatite-Shepparton Rd in Congupna, Mr Duhring said the government had to adjust its approach “before there’s more deaths on these roads”.

Archive maps revealed the road has been broken and crumbling for well over five years, leaving Mr Duhring and other locals to question the state government’s road work strategy.

In the Herald Sun’s five-day road trip searching for the state’s worst road, this one took the cake.

Completley shattered, gravel spilling out of its open wounds, cars literally bouncing their way through it — and all just metres from a primary school.

Katamatite-Shepparton Rd is broken and battered, with pothole plugs breaking up under the weight of trucks. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Department of Transport says it sends crews to inspect the road at least every two weeks. Picture: Mark Stewart

Despite its abysmal condition, the Department of Transport told the Herald Sun crews were inspecting Katamatite-Shepparton Road “at least once every two weeks”.

Yet still, DTP’s own data revealed only 112 potholes and 732 square metres of repairs had been completed on the road in the last two years.

“They seem to be able to do one section up, and then they leave a spot where it’s damaged,” Mr Duhring said.

“I don’t know why they don’t fix the road completely.”

Severin Duhring says his students are left nervous and afraid on the road under these conditions. Picture: Mark Stewart

Severin Duhring says regional roads have been neglected by the Allan government. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Duhring volunteers his time to teach disadvantaged teenagers how to drive to get their license.

He said the roads are difficult to navigate for the most experienced drivers — let alone nervous kids sitting in the drivers’ seat for their first 120 hours on the road.

“It makes it very dangerous for us taking them out and doing their drive,” he said.

Mr Duhring said regional communities, like those in and around Shepparton, had been neglected by the Allan government for years, despite shouldering the brunt of trucks coming from interstate and nearby farmland.

“We’ve got all the trucks running through here with grain, fuels all gotta get brought in through here,” he said.

“The roads are looking a lot better in the city and around Bendigo than they do out here in the Shepparton region.

“Priotising regional communities is one of the things that I’ve been fighting for a long time.

“(Fixing our roads) is just something we should put as number one priority in Victoria.”

Katamatite-Shepparton Rd is crumbling under the heavy truck usage. Picture: Mark Stewart

Who fixes potholes in Victoria?

It depends who owns the road.

The Department of Transport is responsible for maintaining freeways (other than toll roads), arteriral roads and a limited number of non-arterial roads.

Other roads are maintained and repaired by local councils.

Councils fund their own road repairs through rate charges, but also rely on state and federal funding for their maintenance programs.

How do I report a pothole in Victoria?

You can download the Snap Send Solve app to report issues, including potholes and dangerous roads.

Some Victorian councils also allow you to report directly through their own website.

Join the Herald Sun’s Fix Victorian Roads movement by using the hashtag #FixVicRoads on social media.

Originally published as #FixVicRoads: Congupna locals question road repairs approach after major link reduced to gravel