Gippsland roads continue to be identified among Victoria’s most concerning, with RACV’s 2026 My Country Road survey highlighting serious safety issues on two key local highways.
The Strzelecki Highway between Leongatha and Mirboo North was ranked the most concerning road in Eastern Victoria, while the Princes Highway between Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance and the South Gippsland Highway between Loch and Leongatha ranked second and third respectively.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South and Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien said the findings confirmed what Gippslanders had been saying for years.
“Gippslanders are fed up with potholes, crumbling road surfaces and dangerous road shoulders,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The Strzelecki and South Gippsland Highways are vital routes for local families, farmers, freight operators and visitors, yet they have been allowed to deteriorate under Labor.”
The survey identified road surface conditions, narrow shoulders, limited overtaking opportunities, unsafe intersections, roadside vegetation and inadequate signage and line-marking among the concerns on the two local highways.
Across Victoria, 71 per cent of respondents identified potholes and poor road surfaces as their main concern, up from 64 per cent in 2024. Almost three-quarters said road resurfacing should be the priority improvement.
“Gippslanders don’t want more temporary speed reductions and patch-up jobs. They want roads properly repaired and maintained,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The Nationals have committed $5 billion to repair and rebuild our roads, eliminate one million potholes and restore proper preventative maintenance.
“We will also reinstate the Country Roads and Bridges Program, providing South Gippsland, Wellington and Latrobe councils with $1.5 million each year for four years to address local road and bridge priorities.
“Labor has neglected regional roads for far too long. The Nationals have listened and will deliver the safe, reliable roads Gippslanders deserve.”
