The round table found there was widespread concern about the declining conditions, which had caused safety issues that were impacting heavy vehicle operators, supply chains and regional communities.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali was unable to attend due to conflicting commitments; however, he supported the package and emphasised the need for it to be implemented regardless of the outcome of the November state election.
“There are a number of major arterial roads that run in and out of Greater Shepparton that we are seeing consistently fall behind our expectation of major road infrastructure being kept up to a standard that you would expect,” Cr Sali said.
“And then once you step out further and travel beyond major regional centres like Greater Shepparton, in some aspects the roads get worse.”
Greater Shepparton City Council has received a large volume of complaints about road surfaces but has been unable to act on the majority as they concern major roads such as the Midland Hwy and the Goulburn Valley Hwy, which are the responsibility of the Victorian Government.
The main focus of the complaints are potholes, which particularly endanger motorcyclists and large vehicles that are unable to swerve.
Cr Sali said the damage to roads was a serious safety issue and “when you then add conditions of either fog or rain, that it amplifies that risk dramatically”.
Cr Sali supported the outcome of the RCV round table and described the $2 billion figure as achievable and realistic considering current economic difficulties.
On Monday, April 27, the Victoria Government announced its 2026-27 budget would include $1.04 billion to rebuild, repair and resurface roads across Victoria.
The funds are part of the government’s normal commitments to road maintenance, only slightly increased from the previous year’s figure of $976 million.
The package that RCV has recommended would see this figure increased to at least $1.5 billion annually.
Cr Sali responded to the announcement and said “this is being presented as a record maintenance investment, but maintenance alone is not a substitute for rebuilding structurally failing assets”.
“Without a shift toward reconstruction and upgrades, the underlying problems will remain.”
