Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster MP says she is incensed that 6 of the 10 Victorian shires on reduced Roads to Recovery funding increases are in the Mallee electorate.

While the Federal Labor Government is increasing the Roads to Recovery funding gradually from $500 million to $1 billion per year by 2027-28, Dr Webster says the recently announced five-year funding allocation is not being distributed fairly.

All councils are due to receive an increase in Roads to Recovery funding, but the Buloke, Gannawarra, Mildura, Pyrenees, Swan Hill and Yarriambiack Shires will receive a mere 46.7 per cent increase.  Metropolitan councils, together with the Central Goldfields, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Loddon, Northern Grampians and West Wimmera Shires, will receive a 76.9 per cent increase.

“The Albanese Labor Government’s decision is insulting and exacerbates the awful disadvantage the Mallee region faces with crumbling roads and councils unable to shoulder the repair and upgrade burden,” Dr Webster said.

“The 2024 National State of the Assets Report shows $23.1 billion worth of local government roads are in poor condition, $18.7 billion have poor function and $17.0 billion have poor capacity,” Dr Webster said.

“Local Government managed roads represent 77 per cent of the national road network by length and with around 75 per cent of local councils located in regional, rural and remote areas. Federal Government funding such as the Roads to Recovery program is vital in keeping our nation’s road network safe and productive.”

The Coalition established the Roads to Recovery program in Government to support councils maintaining local roads. The program is delivered in five-year funding periods, with the Minister making funding determinations itemising the five-year allocations to each local government area.

Dr Webster said residents could nominate a local road in their shire in desperate need of funding through the National Road Survey launched last month and help send a message to the Albanese Labor Government to fix local roads.

The Member for Mallee encouraged residents to submit their views through the survey available at https://www.research.net/r/2HRHBV9. The survey will be open until 5pm, 30 August 2024.