Emergency road funds nearly exhausted

The Andrews Government has spent $131.1 million of the money allocated to repairing flood damaged roads, with pressure now mounting to reveal a long-term road repair plan.

The Andrews Government has so far spent $131.1 million of the $165 million it allocated for emergency repairs of flood damaged roads, with pressure now mounting for it to reveal its long-term road repair plans.

The regions allocated a share of the funding were: Hume, with $45.1 million; $34.1 million to the Grampian region; $21.5 to Barwon South West; $19.6 million to Loddon Mallee; and $10.8 million to Gippsland.

A spokesperson for the Victorian Government said crews had prioritised damaged roads for safety reasons and to keep lines of supply open.

“The floods and extreme rainfall have caused major damage to roads right across the state, but Victorians can rest assured that we’re delivering the long-term repairs where they are needed most,” she said.

Several areas along Axedale Road, east of Bendigo (pictured), required repairs to damage following last year’s floods. Picture: Zoe Phillips

On a trip to northern Victoria shortly before last November’s state election, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews promised road repairs will be a “big feature of 2023”.

However, as the focus for authorities now shifts from an immediate emergency response -which included filling more than 120,000 potholes – to more larger-scale, permanent repairs, Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson called on the government to reveal its long-term plans to fix the state’s “collapsed roads network”.

“We still have many roads closed across the state and a lot of the damage to roads were a problem before the extreme weather last year. We need billions to fix the problems and we must ensure the repairs are permanent, starting with temporary repairs to potholes.” he said.

Meanwhile, the NSW government has also confirmed funding allocations for regional councils to repair their battered road networks.

Ninety-three councils have received a slice of $280 million announced recently by Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Wagga Council is the recipient of one of the largest allocations with $4.2 million.

Further south, Berrigan will receive $2.5m; Carrathool, $4.7 million; Edward River, $2.9 million; Federation, $4.2 million; Greater Hume, $3.8 million; and Murray River, $5.4 million.

The funding will help fill around 420,000 potholes on council roads on top of the estimated 220,000 potholes crews have plugged in the last 12 months on state-owned roads.

NSW voters are going to the polls next month.