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Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland says more funding is needed for roads

By Georgia Tacey

May 5, 2023

Road safety: State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland is calling for better funding for adequate road maintenance. Photo by Megan Fisher

State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland says the new Safe Local Roads and Streets Program announced by the Andrews Government is not enough to cover the $230 million it has slashed from annual road maintenance funding.

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Ms Cleeland said the best road safety package would be adequate road maintenance funding for state-controlled and local government-controlled roads.

“Instead of maintaining our roads properly, the Andrews Government has slashed more than $230 million from the annual road maintenance budget,” she said.

“At $52.5 million a year, this new program cannot touch the sides of the more than $230 million stripped from roads funding every year.”

Ms Cleeland is also calling on all local government areas to receive their fair share of the Safe Local Roads and Streets Program funding, with a transparent process that identifies the most dangerous intersections and roads in need of upgrades.

“Strathbogie Council estimates they need $50 million just to restore their roads to their previous condition after the October floods and underfunding over the past several years,” she said.

“All our local councils need funding for road maintenance and road safety, and they need it now.”