State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe has called on the Allan Government to increase funding allocated to road maintenance across northern Victoria.
The call follows the government’s re-announcement of road funding outlined in the state budget.
Ms O’Keeffe said this week’s announcement included funding for just 1.4km of road repairs in the Shepparton district.
“Our community has experienced a significant rise in road accidents and fatalities in recent months. Our road toll is the highest in 15 years,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“Despite this, Labor has cut $230 million from road safety programs over the past two years, including a $150 million reduction in the TAC-funded safer system roads and infrastructure program, and an $81 million shortfall in the TAC marketing and road safety budget over the past two financial years.”
After attending a recent Road Safety Community Forum hosted by Victoria Police, Ms O’Keeffe said there was a need for immediate attention to road maintenance.
She said her office was inundated with many calls from constituents concerned about repairs to local roads.
“Our unsafe roads are crumbling, filled with dangerous potholes and broken surfaces, putting lives at risk,” she said.