#FixVicRoads: Reports of road defects skyrocket across Victoria at break of winter

Reports of dangerous potholes have surged in the last month, raising more concerns about the safety of drivers on Victorian roads. See the worst areas.

Reports of dangerous potholes have surged in just one month, raising more concerns about the safety of drivers on Victorian roads.

According to data from the app Snap Send Solve, reports of road defects skyrocketed across the state in June with hundreds of more pothole concerns lodged.

It comes after the Herald Sun launched a special investigation, Fix Victorian Roads, revealing street by street where the 15,000 potholes are being reported in the past 12 months.

But following the campaign concerned citizens are raising concerns about potholes in droves with 1283 new issues lodged — an increase of 37 per cent compared to the month before.

Reports in Bendigo surged 260 per cent, Ballarat was up 132 per cent, 78 per cent in

Melbourne – Inner East, Shepparton 67 per cent, and Hume 61 per cent.

Danny Gorog, Snap Send Solve CEO said Victorians reported potholes at the rate of 43 a day in June “demonstrating that the state of our roads remains a hot button issue for the community.”

“In fact, pothole reports in Victoria leapt more than 60 per cent last month compared to June 2024, by far the biggest growth across any of Snap Send Solve’s 16 report categories, with a particular surge on the back of the Herald Sun’s awareness campaign in mid-June.”

Other areas that saw a surge in reports included Gippsland, and areas across Melbourne.

A pothole on St Kilda Rd plaguing road users in July. Picture: David Crosling

The government say it is spending more on road repairs — but really it is repairing less. Picture: David Crosling

In May, the Allan government announced a $976 million repair blitz, with Minister for Roads, Melissa Horne claiming: “We delivered record roads funding last year and this Budget will deliver even more — making our roads more resilient.”

However, experts have warned that more is needed to get the state’s roads into shape.

Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, said despite the big funding figure the “road maintenance program is a cut in real terms on last year and condemns Victorians to suffer from continuing poor roads.”

RACV Head of Policy, James Williams, has previously warned that maintenance of roads has been falling short “for the last three years”.

He added that the state was putting a bandaid on a much bigger problem choosing to simply plug holes rather than conduct proper maintenance, which will cause major concerns in the years ahead.

Originally published as #FixVicRoads: Reports of road defects skyrocket across Victoria at break of winter