$2 billion for regional roads
Regional Cities Victoria is seeking $1 billion commitment to fix local and declared (state) roads, above and beyond the Victorian Government’s existing almost $1 billion regional road maintenance program.
The four-year offensive will consist of:
- $500 million for local roads
- $1.5 billion for the state (declared) roads
The condition of regional roads has become a major safety concern for all Victorians.7 Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission’s lives lost data shows that over a five-year average 30 more lives are lost on rural roads than on Melbourne roads.8
Despite $964 million9 allocated to regional road maintenance for 2024 and another $976 million10 committed in the 2025/26 Victorian Budget, latest targets from the Department of Transport data indicates just 2.7 million square metres of maintenance is scheduled for the 2025/26 financial year, equal to 1.6 per cent of the state’s 173 million square metres of regional roads.11
If nearly $1 billion in funding now delivers maintenance to just 1.6% of the network, then a doubling of investment to $2 billion over four years is not only justifiable – it is essential.
The establishment of a $2 billion regional roads package will ensure:
- Improve road safety and reduce fatalities on regional roads;
- Restore economic productivity by supporting freight, agriculture, and tourism industries;
- Ensure value for money, by reversing the decline in infrastructure condition before costs escalate further.12
A $2 billion regional roads package is a down payment on safety, connectivity, productivity, and equity that will benefit all Victorians.
