The Victorian Budget 2025/26 will invest a massive $976 million in a ‘Better Roads Blitz’ to fix potholes and upgrade road surfaces across Victoria, however in this neck of the woods, the Murray Valley Highway has only receiving enough funding for one kilometre of works.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said “works are underway to provide a stronger, safer and smoother surface to a 1.36km section of the Murray Valley Highway at Rutherglen between Jacks Road and Federation Way.”
This area of the highway has had several maintenance works undertaken since the heavy rains and floods of 2021 although this is the most significant investment, which should see the main thoroughfare become more resilient.
For several years local MPs have called on the government to invest in local roads with bandaid solutions being provided for the continually cracking and unsafe roads in the Ovens and Murray region.
Despite this, no funding has been allocated in the past two budgets for many roads in far regional Victoria even while the Victorian Government has claimed the 2025/26 budget will see record investment into fixing roads, “delivering important maintenance work in every corner of the state”.
Last week, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledged that more could be done to construct and repair roads across the state while she and Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne both said the government was focused on what matters most – getting regional families home safer and sooner with the Better Roads Blitz.
“Victoria’s road network connects Victorians to family, school and jobs, and moves millions of tonnes of goods and supplies around the state,” Ms Horne said.
“We delivered record roads funding last year and this Budget will deliver even more, making our roads more resilient.”
But Ovens Valley MP, Tim McCurdy and Yarrawonga truck driver Kevin Keenan refute their claims, saying that regional roads were already in poor condition, and now roadside hazards were increasing the risk to drivers.
“It’s unacceptable that basic roadside maintenance is being neglected while the government continues to turn a blind eye to the issues impacting country Victoria,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Regional Victorians are left dodging potholes, crumbling shoulders, and dangerous intersections.
“The state of regional roads has become a daily hazard for locals, with no meaningful investment.
“I have continually fought for funding for regional roads, with no significant investment except for minor patching works that disintegrates within a couple of months being handed out in the past few years.
"We can’t afford to have our roadsides become even more dangerous than they already are.
“Imagine how far that nearly $1 billion could have gone if even a fraction was spent fixing the roads that farmers, families and freight operators rely on every single day.”
RMIT University engineering expert Dr Jaspreet Pooni said longer term solutions could be delivered by exploring innovative technologies and advanced construction techniques.
“As an established road network matures, increased resources are inevitably needed to maintain it,” Dr Pooni said.
“Moisture is the main enemy; keeping water out or ensuring adequate drainage is critical to longevity.
“In the case of potholes, the cracked surface allows moisture to enter and pool beneath the pavement, which causes it to lift under traffic loading.
“Routine maintenance is essential for effectively managing this infrastructure and addressing defects as they arise, which will prevent them from becoming a major hazard that requires costly repairs ... poor conditions contribute to vehicle damage and road safety.
“There is a clear opportunity to leverage pavement research and expertise to improve the resilience of our road network.
“To achieve this, we must explore innovative technologies, advanced construction techniques, and effective monitoring systems to enhance road performance and durability.”