Regional Victoria’s potholed roads: Farmers unhappy with repair work

Russell and Sharon Hocking says simply “chucking” loose gravel into rural potholes isn’t good enough, and are taking their concerns right to the top.

Filling potholes with loose gravel does not ensure safe travel, exasperated motorists Sharon and Russell Hocking say.

And the Goulburn Valley farmers will put their concerns directly to the Deputy Premier with a visit by Jacinta Allan to their rough roads on the cards.

“There’s a frustration out there from not just farmers, but anyone who drives country roads, about the way potholes are being repaired,” Mr Hocking said.

“Loose gravel is just being chucked into potholes. It seems to be common practice – there isn’t hotmix or bitumen binding the gravel together. Just gravel shovelled into the potholes.

“You get a decent downpour and it’s an empty pothole again. Even without the rain and floods, just driving across a poorly repaired pothole means the stones come adrift.”

Roads Opposition roads spokeswoman Roma Britnell (right) met with concerned farmers Sharon and Russell Hocking along the Prairie-Rochester Road. The road is one of many damaged by the 2022 floods and is significantly potholed. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The Hockings operate a cropping property at Prairie, about 55 kilometres north of Ms Allan’s home city of Bendigo.

Mr Hocking is a member of the Victorian Farmers Federation’s infrastructure committee and is set to meet with the Deputy Premier for an update on the statewide road repair rollout.

In October, a $165 million emergency road repair blitz was announced by the State Government following the 2022 floods.

“My concern is that a lot of the funding is going into rushed patch-up jobs. You can’t just chuck gravel in a hole and hope that it’s safe,” Mr Hocking said.

Opposition freight spokeswoman Roma Britnell inspected the rough roads Prairie and other flood-hit districts last week.

“Regional Roads Victoria have claimed they’ve repaired 120,000 potholes,” the Liberal MP said. “But how many have had to be filled in again because the job wasn’t done properly to start with?

“Just chucking gravel into potholes isn’t the solution but you see it right across Victoria.”

Victorian Roads Minister Melissa Horne said 651 kilometres of pavement works, ranging from pothole repair to more complex treatments had been undertaken in recent months.

She said a further 80 kilometres of work was underway with more projects in the pipeline.

“We’re working hard to repair the state’s roads following the devastating floods last year,” the Roads Minister said.

“Crews are currently delivering long-term repairs as part of our $165 million emergency repair blitz – with more than 760 kilometres of works already complete.”

“World-first laser technology is also being used to assess the condition of the damage to the roads from the floods to inform additional recovery projects statewide and ensure motorists can keep moving safely on our roads.”