Billions for roads

Roads in Gippsland will be better and safer for all motorists with The Nationals in government. 

Labor cut the road maintenance budget by 10 per cent when it came to government and after almost a decade of Andrews Labor Government neglect, our roads have gone from bad to worse.

Rather than continuing to reduce speed limits and fund patch jobs, we will provide $10 billion in funding over 10 years to fix Victoria’s crumbling road system.

Under our plan, Gippslanders won’t have to put up with band-aid solutions that only last weeks or months until the next heavy rain.

I know this will be welcome news to the many residents who regularly contact me about the condition of our roads and the impact this is having on both travel time and wear and tear on their vehicles.

The funding increase will be delivered through the annual road asset management budget, increasing spending from around $600 million to $1 billion annually.

Our commitment will tackle the state of roads such as the South Gippsland Highway, Meeniyan-Promontory Road and the Hyland Highway, but all state roads will benefit.

In addition to this $10 billion investment, we will also initiate a review of construction standards to ensure band-aid fixes are a thing of the past by increasing accountability. 

We will deliver longer-term contracts to promote innovation and give contractors certainty, so that they are able to invest in better equipment and allow for strategic maintenance planning.

The Nationals will also undertake a quality audit of all state-managed roads.

As we head to the polls next month, remember that only The Nationals have real solutions for all Victorians.

Danny O’Brien MP, The Nationals State Member for Gippsland South