By Deanne Jeffers
AFTER making headlines in recent weeks, crews were sighted repairing potholes on Murchison-Tatura Road on Friday, July 17, with repairs also occurring from Monday, July 20 on the ‘storm damaged’ Goulburn Valley Highway.
While some potholes remain in these areas, one of the worst sections of Murchison-Tatura Road pictured on the front page of The Adviser on July 15, has now been mostly filled. However, the speed limit has been reduced to 60km in this area near Murchison.
City of Greater Shepparton Councillor Rod Schubert, who represents Midland Ward, welcomed the repairs but said the road had been a concern for some time and required full rehabilitation.
“Victoria has earned the unwanted title of Australia’s ‘Pothole Capital’,” he said. “Analysis of Snap Send Solve reports featured by Nine News and 10 News, found that Victoria recorded 31,729 pothole reports, compared to 23,312 in New South Wales and 19,784 in Queensland. The same analysis identified a 28 per cent increase in pothole reports across Victoria in a single year.
“The Murchison-Tatura Road has been a stark example of Victoria’s road maintenance crisis. With extensive potholes, crumbling edges and deep rutting, the road poses an ongoing safety risk.”
“Recent wet weather has only accelerated the decline, leaving many sections in an unacceptable condition.”
Cr Schubert, who has made several reports about the state-managed road and spoken to media about its condition, said the government cannot treat regional road maintenance as a lower priority.
“Regional communities deserve the same level of investment and road safety as metropolitan Melbourne. Every road user has the right to travel on roads that are safe, reliable and properly maintained.
“The Murchison-Tatura Road is a vital transport link,” he said. “It supports the movement of people and goods that are essential to the economic strength of the Goulburn Valley. Allowing this road to continue deteriorating is not only a safety issue, but also an economic issue that affects businesses, farming communities and the broader region.”
Cr Schubert called on the State Government and Minister for Roads to immediately prioritise funding for the reconstruction and repair of Murchison-Tatura Road.
“Temporary patching is no longer sufficient. The road requires a comprehensive, long-term rehabilitation program that addresses the underlying pavement failures rather than treating the symptoms,” he said.
“Regional Victorians should not have to wait for serious injury or fatality before meaningful action is taken. The condition of Murchison-Tatura Road has been obvious for far too long. The time for short-term fixes has passed.”
Residents and motorists are encouraged to report any urgent issues on state-managed roads with the relevant authority.
Who to contact:
Snap Send Solve: Download the smartphone app to take a photo of a local hazard. The app automatically determines your GPS location and forwards the report directly to the responsible local council or utility.
Greater Shepparton City Council: Call (03) 5832 9700 for issues on local council streets or footpaths.
Transport Victoria (DTP / VicRoads): Call the hazard hotline on 13 11 70 to report urgent issues like deep highway potholes or broken traffic signals.
