Wednesday, 26 August 2026

 David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:31): I would like to speak in support of the 2000 people who signed the petition to seal the dirt roads of Cardinia shire. Cardinia shire maintains 800 kilometre of dirt road. This is at least three times the length of Melbourne’s tram network. Yet Cardinia shire is not out in Woop Woop; it is just 45 kilometres from the CBD. It is home to a rapidly growing population of 130,000 people, and many of them commute to the city. But this is not just a roads issue; it is also a public health issue. After light showers these roads become slippery slopes, but after larger downpours they turn into streams that flood buildings and cause septic tanks to overflow. Several residents have woken up to find sewage on their properties. Some fear that dust and mould may have already contributed to serious health issues. They also worry it is a matter of time before emergency vehicles get stuck in the mud.

For those who think this is just a local issue, I would point out that this is symptomatic of the discontent I see across my electorate. While the government tries to sell a vision for its megaprojects, all the people in Upper Beaconsfield are seeing is mud. I am a libertarian and believe in small government, but I also believe that providing basic infrastructure is a legitimate function of the state. Making roads safe is surely the bare minimum. Fixing them will cost money, but it is a rounding error compared to the budget for the Suburban Rail Loop. The fact that 2000 people have physically signed this petition should prick up the government’s ears. This is a lot for a local issue and will be top of mind come November.

I understand Cardinia council has launched a campaign about this and will keep it on the agenda. I thank them, and I also thank Cr Trudi Paton for bringing it to my attention. I thank Paul Keen and the Cockatoo roads action group for their work with the petition. Lastly, I would like to thank all of those who signed the petition. These people deserve to have their roads fixed. The community is united, and I encourage everyone to support this campaign.