Victorian budget 2020: Councils and farmers call for road cash splash
Two years ago, The Weekly Times aired concerns from farmers and other motorists over the condition of rural roads, and many are still waiting for something to be done.
COUNTRY councils and farmers have called for a rural road funding boost in Victoria’s May budget.
Two years ago, The Weekly Times aired concerns from farmers and other motorists over the condition of rural roads, with some thoroughfares considered “beyond repair”.
Within two months, the Andrews Government announced $425 million over a 24-month period to address the issue as well as the formation of a VicRoads subsidiary — Regional Roads Victoria — to tackle the problem.
The two-year cash injection is set to expire in June and municipal leaders have called on the State Government to not only maintain current funding levels but boost the cash injection.
Former Rural Councils Victoria chairman Rob Gersch spoke out over the woeful condition of country roads two years ago and said this week that more needs to be done.
“We’ve had a great harvest season but that’s meant more B-doubles on the road. Seventy and 80-tonne vehicles doing 100km/h on what is pretty brittle road surfaces really highlights the need for more road funding,” the Hindmarsh Shire councillor said. “Two years on, we need improved road funding more than ever.”
Incumbent Rural Councils Victoria chairman Mary-Ann Brown said the Government had made a reasonable start on improving regional roads but more was needed.
“Back in 2016 and 2017, there was an outpouring of community frustration with state-run roads. You could see that with letters to the editor in the country newspapers, the commentary on Facebook,” the Southern Grampians councillor said.
“That’s improved in the past few years — there’s been work on the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway for instance – but more needs to be done.”
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Paul Mumford said primary producers were frustrated by the disproportionate amount of state cash aimed at Melbourne road projects.
“You look at all the money that’s been spent on the West Gate Tunnel, on removing level crossings, on not building the East West Link. It’s a pity just some of that money isn’t spent out in the country,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said so far this construction season, Regional Roads Victoria had reached the halfway mark, with 750km of roads resurfaced, resealed or rebuilt.
“We continue to take action to deliver safer and more reliable roads for regional Victorians with $519 million invested in the 2019-20 Budget,” the spokeswoman said.
TWO YEARS ON, IT’S NO BETTER
LOCATED in Victoria’s far southwest, Warrock is 38km from the South Australian border and 380km from Melbourne.
For Emiel Timmers, it’s not just the zero on the road signs that counts — it’s the nought on the road funding balance sheet for his slice of the state.
The Warrock resident appeared on the front page of The Weekly Times two years ago, lamenting the state of the potholed Casterton-Apsley Rd.
He says little has improved.
“It’s not like no one’s unaware — this is a problem that’s not going away. In fact, it’s got worse,” Mr Timmers said.
“It’d be great if those in power could drive between Casterton and Dergholm, get a real feel for the road conditions. It just wouldn’t be tolerated in Melbourne, yet because we’re out of sight and out of mind, the road can be left to deteriorate.”
Faded double lines, large potholes and blind bends have all been cited by Western District motorists as issues of concern along Casterton-Apsley Rd.
“Being close to the state border, a lot of us in this part of the world see there’s more money being spent in South Australia on their country roads — that’s been the case for some time.”
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