Wednesday, 16 October 2024

 Iwan WALTERS (Greenvale) (14:53): (849) My question is also for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and I noted with great excitement her announcement this week that the Allan Labor government is rolling out a $964 million road maintenance blitz across our state, rebuilding, repairing and resurfacing roads impacted by flooding rains and the wear and tear of increased traffic volumes. Alongside this road maintenance blitz, which represents the largest single-year investment in road maintenance in Victoria’s history, I know that the department’s crews and contractors are out conducting seasonal maintenance of roadside verges across Victoria, and I want to thank the minister and her team for their responsiveness to my regular advocacy on behalf of community members who share my deep concern about illegal dumping along our key arterial roads, including Somerton Road, Oaklands Road and Mickleham Road, which are often in environmentally sensitive areas abutting beautiful areas like Woodlands Historic Park in our valuable green wedge land. On behalf of the communities across my local Greenvale, can the minister please advise me how the Victorian government’s $964 million road maintenance blitz will help to deliver smoother, safer and better roads in suburbs like Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn, Somerton and Greenvale?