Thursday, 1 August 2024

Omeo Highway

Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (18:43): (1025) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. The action that I seek is for the minister to investigate and provide me with a report on why it took VicRoads three days to act when the Omeo Highway became impassable on the weekend of 20 and 21 July. On Friday 19 July Victoria experienced a cold snap and 25 centimetres of snow was dumped over an extended stretch of road on the Omeo Highway near Christmas Creek. This area is in my electorate and also in the electorate of my friend and colleague the member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, who asked that I raise this matter.

Both Omeo police and bed-and-breakfast operator Gordon Pirie reported to VicRoads on Saturday that the road was blocked by snow, and the reference number is ETS 503 207 820. Thankfully, Mr Pirie was able to escort guests out through the snow on Sunday. He then phoned VicRoads again on Monday, and sometime later that day ‘Road closed’ signs appeared on the highway on the southern side of Mitta Mitta. But this was shutting the gate after the horse had bolted. By the time the signs went up the snow had actually melted. A car abandoned in the snow on Saturday was the only evidence left of the weekend’s blockage. Mr Pirie has been in contact with my colleague the member for Benambra, and Mr Tilley is adamant that the government cannot brush of Mr Pirie with platitudes about C-class roads and problems with the reporting process. This was a dangerous situation and an unacceptable dereliction of duty by the agency tasked with the management of these roads, and my constituents want the truth about what went wrong.