OVERDUE resurfacing work on the Barmah-Shepparton Road has already started falling apart, creating a safety hazard and again highlighting appalling neglect of Victoria’s regional roads.
One Nation Member for Northern Victoria Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell said there was little point in expensive resurfacing works if they were substandard, created additional risks for country motorists, and required yet more repair work.
“The Barmah-Shepparton Road is used by cars, motorcycles, trucks and school buses every day and is a critical route connecting smaller communities like Nathalia and Barmah to services located in Shepparton,” Ms Tyrrell said.
“Local motorists have welcomed long-overdue repairs, but they’re telling me that in the space of only a few weeks, these resurfaced areas are already breaking apart and leaving loose gravel on the uneven road surface.
Ms Tyrrell also expressed concern about the cost of repeated patching of damaged roads that last just a few weeks instead of a proper rehabilitation that would fix a road long-term.
“We can’t keep applying band aids, then going back a few weeks later to do it all over again. It’s a complete waste of money that does nothing to improve safety or productivity. Labor must make a commitment to lasting, durable repairs,” said Ms Tyrrell
“There is a huge backlog in regional road maintenance in our state. Despite almost $1B being allocated to regional roads this financial year, less than two per cent of the network has been scheduled for maintenance according to Regional Cities Victoria.”
