Country Roads and Bridges Roads The Nationals
Safer roads in the Ovens Valley under The Nationals’ $10 billion roads plan
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Roads in Ovens Valley will be safer for all motorists with the Nationals announcing $10 billion in funding over 10 years to fix Victoria’s crumbling road system.
The funding increase will be delivered through the annual road asset management budget, increasing spending from around $600 million to $1 billion annually.
As part of this investment, there will also be a review of construction standards, increasing accountability of VicRoads and contractors, and a reduction in red and green tape that often escalates construction costs. There will also be an audit of all state-managed roads.
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, said “The Nationals are committed to delivering better, safer roads through long-term, strategic planning across the road network.
“Driving around the Ovens Valley every day has given me the opportunity to see just how neglected our roads are, and the poor standard that we have been forced to accept.
“The Andrews Labor Government has wasted billions of dollars on numerous ‘spin and spend’ projects in Melbourne, leaving us behind.
“Roads such as the Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, and the Great Alpine Road, which was recently voted as the worst in the state, highlight the desperate need for more funding.”
Mr McCurdy highlighted the importance of roads to regional Victorians, noting that many locals use them every day to access essential services, stating that, “This $10 billion means our local roads will be better maintained – better country roads save lives.”
Announcing the commitment, Shadow Minister for Roads, Danny O’Brien, said after almost a decade of Andrews Labor Government neglect our roads have gone from bad to worse.
“Labor cut the road maintenance budget by 10 per cent when it came to government and our country roads have never recovered.
Mr O’Brien continued, “This $10 billion investment will deliver longer-term contracts to promote innovation, give contractors certainty to invest in better equipment, and allow for strategic maintenance planning.
“It means Victorians won’t have to put up with band-aid solutions that only last weeks or months until the next heavy rain.”
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