Motorists across the Euroa electorate will benefit from safer, better maintained roads under a major $5 billion commitment from the Victorian Liberals and Nationals to repair, rebuild and maintain Victoria’s crumbling road network.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson and Leader of The Nationals Danny O’Brien have announced a comprehensive plan to eliminate one million potholes, dramatically increase preventative road maintenance and restore the engineering capability needed to properly manage Victoria’s road network.
The commitment includes a significant increase in preventative maintenance to stop potholes forming before they become dangerous, alongside improved roadside maintenance including grass slashing, drain clearing and graffiti removal.
The plan will also establish Better Roads Victoria as a dedicated agency within the Department of Transport and Planning, restoring the technical expertise lost after the Allan Labor Government dismantled VicRoads and Regional Roads Victoria.
Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said regional Victorians had watched their roads deteriorate while the Allan Labor Government wasted billions on project cost blowouts in Melbourne.
“Across our electorate, families, farmers, freight operators and local businesses are forced to navigate roads that are crumbling beneath them every single day,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Whether it’s the Hume Freeway, the Goulburn Valley Highway or countless local state roads, people are sick of dodging potholes, replacing tyres and repairing suspension because Labor has abandoned the most basic responsibility of government.”
Ms Cleeland said the injustice did not end with the damage caused by Victoria’s roads.
“Labor has also created a system where more and more Victorians are left paying for that damage themselves.”
“When the road damage compensation threshold was introduced in 2004, motorists could seek compensation where repairs exceeded $1,000. Over the past two decades that threshold has increased nearly 70 per cent to $1,681.”
“The consequence is that many of the most common pothole repairs, including replacing a damaged tyre and wheel, now fall below the compensation threshold.
“So even where the State would otherwise be liable for failing to properly maintain its roads, many motorists receive nothing and are left paying repair bills that should never have existed in the first place.
“Victorians pay their registration expecting safe roads. Instead, they are paying again to repair damage caused by roads the Allan Labor Government has failed to maintain.”
Ms Cleeland said the Liberals and Nationals plan would focus on preventing roads from falling into disrepair rather than allowing them to deteriorate until motorists were left to foot the bill.
“Instead of wasting billions on cost blowouts, a Liberal and Nationals Government will invest in the roads regional Victorians rely on every day,” she said.
“This $5 billion commitment means safer roads, fewer potholes, lower repair bills and a fairer deal for regional communities.”
“For too long, regional Victoria has been asked to accept less while paying the same taxes and registration as everyone else.”
“Only the Liberals and Nationals have a plan to rebuild Victoria’s roads, restore confidence in our transport network and deliver the fair share regional Victorians deserve.” 
