State Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy has expressed concern over the Victorian Government’s decision to rebrand Regional Roads Victoria.
Mr McCurdy said the government has “presided over $41 billion in cost blowouts for city-centric big build projects, jeopardising essential services in regions”.
“Regional roads have never been in worse shape, yet Labor continues to cut maintenance funding to the bone,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Given 62 per cent of all road deaths this year have occurred in regional Victoria, Labor must cast its eyes beyond the tram tracks and start delivering safer roads.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage our roads, and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
In response, a government spokesperson said the Labor Government had invested a record $964 million into maintaining Victorian roads in this year alone, “far exceeding the yearly average of $493 million under the previous Liberal National Government.
“Repeated flooding and above-average rainfall caused unprecedented damage to our roads, which meant our maintenance program needed to focus on rebuilding damaged roads last year – simply resurfacing these roads would not have prevented further degradation.
“Now this work to rebuild our most flood-damaged roads is complete, resurfacing levels will significantly increase during the upcoming maintenance season.”
According to Transport Accident Commission data, a total of 173 people lost their lives on rural Victorian roads in 2023, up from 135 during 2022.
A TAC spokesperson said the evidence shows speeding, fatigue, distractions and impairment are major contributing factors to crashes in regional areas.
“There is no data or evidence to suggest that road conditions are a major factor contributing to trauma on our roads. Regardless of the roads we are travelling on, we should always take care, stay alert and drive to the conditions,” the spokesperson said.