Dear Editor
The tragic death of 71-year-old Ballarat man Peter Mason, killed after his motorcycle struck a pothole on the Western Highway near Trawalla, is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of properly maintaining Victoria’s roads.
My thoughts are with Mr Mason’s family and friends as they come to terms with this devastating loss.
The circumstances of Mr Mason’s death raise serious questions about the condition and maintenance of our roads. This stretch of the Western Highway had previously been identified as requiring repair, with works subsequently marked as completed.
Regional Victorians have been raising concerns about dangerous potholes and deteriorating roads for years. Every Victorian should be able to have confidence that roads are properly maintained and hazards are addressed.
Fixing our roads properly, rather than relying on temporary patching that fails again within months, must be an urgent priority.
The Nationals will continue pressing the government to bring forward maintenance on regional Victoria’s most dangerous roads. We have also pledged that, if elected to government, we will invest $5 billion to properly maintain Victoria’s roads and eliminate one million potholes.
Victorians deserve to know that when they leave home, they will return safely. That requires sustained investment and proper maintenance, and The Nationals have a plan to deliver that.
