30 of the state’s roads that need fixing now
MEDIA RELEASE
Regional Cities Victoria has written to Premier Ben Carroll outlining 30 priority roads across Victoria’s 10 largest regional cities that should be first in line for repairs under his additional $352 million road maintenance.
RCV Chair Cr Ben Blain said the Government’s acknowledgement that the condition of Victoria’s roads was “not good enough” would mean little unless additional funding translated quickly into crews on the ground fixing the state roads regional Victorians use every day.
“The Premier has acknowledged what regional Victorians have been saying for years – our road network is broken,” Cr Blain said.
“We’ve now given the Government a clear list of 30 state roads across our 10 regional cities that need urgent attention.
“If there is additional money available and more maintenance crews being deployed, we want these roads at the front of the queue.”
RCV members have each nominated three priority roads for urgent fixing:
| City | Priority roads |
| Ballarat | Ballarat–Carngham Road; Western Highway; Western Highway and Brewery Tap Road intersection |
| Bendigo | Calder Highway; Midland Highway; Loddon Valley Highway |
| Geelong | Fellmongers Road / Boundary Road; Pioneer Road; Geelong Ring Road |
| Horsham | Horsham–Kalkee Road; Wimmera Highway; Natimuk–Hamilton Road |
| Latrobe | Hazelwood Road; Monash Way, Churchill; Moore Street, Moe and Shakespeare Street, Traralgon |
| Mildura | Benetook Avenue; Eleventh Street; Werrimull Road |
| Shepparton | Goulburn Valley Highway and Hume Freeway; Echuca Road to Murray Valley Highway; Tatura–Murchison Road |
| Wangaratta | Wangaratta–Whitfield Road; Greta Road; Murdoch Road |
| Warrnambool | Princes Highway; Hopkins Highway; Princes Highway, Allansford |
| Wodonga | Murray Valley Highway; Bandiana Link Road; Kiewa Valley Highway |
Cr Blain said the additional $352 million was finally recognition of the scale of the problem, but it would not undo years of underinvestment in regional infrastructure.
“Postponing metropolitan projects so money can be spent fixing the infrastructure Victorians rely on every day is the right priority,” Cr Blain said.
“For too long, billions have continued to flow into major Melbourne projects while regional roads have deteriorated and dedicated regional investment has disappeared.
“The Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund was scrapped in 2023 and regional communities have been left without a dedicated fund to build the infrastructure that creates jobs, unlocks housing and supports growing communities.
“Fixing these 30 roads would be a good start, but Victoria needs to address the much bigger regional infrastructure deficit.”
RCV is calling on all parties contesting the November State Election to commit to a $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years, providing an additional $500 million a year above business-as-usual maintenance funding to fix the regional road network.
It is also seeking a $1 billion Regional Growth Fund to invest in enabling infrastructure that unlocks new housing, creates jobs and drives economic growth across regional Victoria.
“Beyond the immediate repairs, regional Victoria needs a long-term investment plan that stops our roads and infrastructure reaching these conditions in the first place,” Cr Blain said.
“We have invited the Premier and Roads Minister Paul Hamer to join us in any of our 10 regional cities. We’re more than happy to show them first-hand where and why this investment is needed.”
Media: Emily Broadbent 0413 133 627
