Rural and regional roads
Joe McCRACKEN (Western Victoria) (17:49): (398) My adjournment matter is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety in the other place, and the action I seek is to undertake a review of the condition of roads in country Victoria, not inside Melbourne, including an assessment of the impact of road surfaces on driver safety, and to commit to funding that review as soon as possible but at the latest time in the next state budget. I have got to say, even driving on the Western Highway – not just a back road, the Western Highway – this week I was faced with what was really almost like an obstacle course of potholes on the road. Although there were signs slowing people down to sometimes 80, sometimes 70 and sometimes 60 and there were signs up saying that there were roadworks – I did not see any roadworks – there was no actual solution in place. Nothing was actually being done. I am one of hundreds if not thousands of people that travel that road each and every single day, and nothing is happening. I do not know if anyone has seen, but it was on the news on Monday night that the state’s potholes have gone up from a reported 3000 on the app called Snap Send Solve to almost 9000. That is unbelievable, and it just goes to show the state of our roads; they are in terrible condition. There were just over 3000 potholes reported on Snap Send Solve in 2021–22. They have nearly tripled.
Bev McArthur: But they rejected an inquiry.
Joe McCRACKEN: The inquiry has been rejected. You are right, Mrs McArthur. I do not understand how we can have all this talk about how we spend so much money on regional roads. The truth of the matter is half of the money is actually spent on the maintenance of wire rope barriers that do not actually go in any way towards fixing the roads. Victorian Transport Association CEO Peter Anderson said:
Some of those potholes aren’t just potholes, they’re … the size of a kitchen table.
Bev McArthur: Craters, Mr McCracken.
Joe McCRACKEN: Craters, as Mrs McArthur says. I think I am going to have to get not a car but a moon buggy to try and navigate around Victoria. That is how bad it is. Maybe the government might want to help us by subsidising moon buggies. That might be a great way to help regional Victorians, because the roads certainly are not getting the maintenance they well and truly deserve.