Victorian 2022 election: Opposition launches rural roads survey

A survey to highlight the crumbling condition of regional roads is being launched by the state opposition. See how you can get involved.

A statewide quest to find regional Victoria’s most dangerous roads has been launched by the state opposition.

The three-month survey will call for nominations from the general public, who have been asked to submit photos of dangerous thoroughfares via an online portal.

Coalition roads spokeswoman Steph Ryan will announce the roads survey alongside State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy near Wallan this morning.

“We’ll be seeking reports direct from local communities, councils, farmers and community groups as we search for Victoria’s worst roads,” Ms Ryan said.

“Fixing the maintenance backlog won’t be an easy task – as the Victorian Auditor-General says, poorly-maintained roads cost more to repair, cost motorists more in fuel and in vehicle repairs, on top of the safety risk.”

Concerns raised by Wimmera farmer Ryan Milgate triggered the push for greater attention on rural roads.

The former VFF grains group president took to social media in recent months to highlight the degraded condition of regional roads.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Wimmera, or southwest Victoria. Wherever you drive, the roads are crumbling,” he said.

Mr Guy said decades of neglect had left regional Victoria’s roads rough and potholed.

“There have been 76 lives lost on Victorian roads already this year, but Labor is spending less on maintaining and repairing the state’s roads network,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the Andrews Labor government has found more than $24bn to pour into

plugging its cost overruns on poorly managed major projects.”

Country roads have been a public relations headache for both Labor and the Coalition in recent electoral cycles.

During the 2014 election cycle, then state transport minister Terry Mulder faced criticism from a south-west Victorian lobby group — Roads to Ruin — calling for extra cash allocated to state-run thoroughfares.

Then during the 2018 election campaign, Mr Guy made regional road maintenance one of his key campaign objectives, claiming the Andrews Government’s recently-established Regional Roads Victoria had done little to improve conditions.

The online portal is at the address: VicsWorstRoad.vote