Thursday 3 August 2017
Dear Editor
Since New Year’s Day 87 lives have been lost on Victoria’s country roads.
Our rural road networks are crumbling and urgently need an immediate funding injection to improve safety.
Instead Daniel Andrews has slashed the regional roads budget by more than $360 million since coming to office in 2014.
Every time I speak to regional councils about their concerns the return of the former Liberal Nationals government’s Country Roads and Bridges Program tops their wish lists.
A recent report by the Municipal Association of Victoria found regional councils are struggling to maintain – let alone upgrade – their roads.
The Victorian Auditor-General also recently reported deterioration of Victoria’s country road network poses a “growing risk to public safety”.
Both reports call on Daniel Andrews to urgently fund maintenance works.
The experts have spoken but the Andrews Labor Government is failing to act.
Peter Walsh
Leader of The Nationals
Member for Murray Plains