The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says The Nationals in Government will give Gippsland roads the attention they deserve through a $5 billion plan to repair and rebuild Victoria’s failing road network.
Mr O’Brien, who is also the Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, said the commitment would eliminate one million potholes across the state, increase road maintenance funding by 25 per cent and restore a proper preventative maintenance program after years of neglect under the Allan Labor Government.
“Gippslanders don’t need to be told our roads are falling apart – they drive on them every day,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Gippslanders are constantly dealing with rough surfaces, potholes and roads that should have been repaired properly years ago.
“Too often Labor’s answer has been another temporary patch-up job that quickly breaks apart, leaving motorists back where they started.”
Mr O’Brien said Victoria’s roads crisis had developed while Labor oversaw billions of dollars in project cost blowouts and waste.
“Gippslanders have watched more than $40 billion in major project cost blowouts while our roads have continued to deteriorate.
“Meanwhile, regional Victoria receives less than 12 per cent of infrastructure spending despite being home to around a quarter of the state’s population.”
Mr O’Brien said The Nationals’ roads plan would be backed by structural reform, including the creation of Better Roads Victoria to rebuild engineering expertise and improve accountability for road maintenance.
“We need to get back to fixing roads properly before they fail, not waiting until they become dangerous and then scrambling to patch them up.
“This plan is about delivering lasting improvements, not headline-grabbing maintenance blitzes that leave Gippslanders wondering why the roads are still falling apart a few months later.”
Mr O’Brien said the roads commitment formed part of The Nationals’ Fair Share Guarantee, which would ensure regional Victoria receives 25 per cent of all new infrastructure spending.
“Gippsland is one of the state’s economic powerhouses. We produce the food, energy and resources that keep Victoria moving, yet we continue to miss out when infrastructure funding is handed out.
“Only The Nationals have a plan to ensure Gippsland receives its fair share and Gippslanders finally get the safe, reliable roads they deserve.
“After more than a decade of neglect, Gippslanders deserve a fresh start and roads that are built to last.”
Caption: The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says The Nationals in Government will repair and maintain Gippsland roads.
