Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has continued to put pressure on the Allan Labor Government about regional Victoria’s dangerous roads, directing questions to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety in Parliament this week.
Ms Cleeland specifically called out delays in lowering the speed limit from 100kph to 60kph on a 5km stretch of the Euroa-Mansfield Road between Ridge Road and the Gooram Falls carpark, where there have been several car crashes this year.
“There have been two fatalities, at least ten accidents, and several people have suffered life-altering injuries on this road in the past year,” Ms Cleeland said.
“VicRoads and Police confirmed the need to reduce the speed limit in the area back in August.
“I brought this to the attention of the Minister immediately, yet it took four months to receive a response.
“While we were told changes would be made, today, the speed limit still remains the same.
“I have grave concerns about these delays and the department’s ability to make change in a timely manner.”
Gooram CFA Captain Michael Stubbe said local volunteers were regularly the first responders to these accidents, something many in the brigades were not equipped for.
“The most recent life that was lost took us three hours to get her body out of the wreckage,” Mr Stubbe said.
“She was just 18 years old.
“She hadn’t even finished her exams.”
Ms Cleeland also called out Labor’s decision to slash roads budgets in recent years, saying it was causing problems for commuters, the transport industry, and visitors to our region.
“Our regional roads are in an appalling state with 45 per cent cut to the road maintenance budget since 2020 because the Allan Labor Government cannot manage a project, and cannot manage. The impact means too many lives are being lost on our crumbling road network,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The Premier is dangerously clawing money from the road maintenance budget with a further 25 per cent cut in this year’s budget – this is hurting Victorian motorists.
“We know our roads are in a dire state, yet this tired Labor Government is cutting road maintenance funding and falling short of its own road repair target.
“Drivers can no longer drive on the left side of the road, they have to drive on what is left of the road.”
In August, it was also revealed there would be no Victorian road resurfacing program in the coming financial year with no contracts for road resurfacing going to tender.
