The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has slammed the Allan Labor Government for its continued neglect of regional roads with its announcement of limited upgrades to the Calder Highway, saying the funding falls far short of what is needed.
Ms Benham said while the announcement gave the impression of a broad commitment to the Calder Highway, the fine print reveals works are limited to just three locations: Lockwood, Bridgewater on Loddon, and Nyarrin.
“These works are needed and welcome, but they don’t even scratch the surface,” Ms Benham said.
“The Calder Highway urgently needs extensive upgrades. I travel this road frequently and see firsthand the dangerous conditions, dodging potholes and avoiding eroded edges. Some sections are simply unsafe, and communities continue to face crumbling roads despite years of warnings.
“The Government claims it is responding to community feedback, yet communities have been screaming from the rooftops for years and their pleas still go unheard.”
Regional roads are vital to Victoria’s economy, connecting farmers, freight operators, and families. Funding for road maintenance remains well below the national average, leaving many communities with roads that are unsafe and deteriorating. Without a long-term, fully funded plan, these conditions will only get worse.
“Communities, freight operators and families rely on the Calder Highway every single day, yet Labor’s neglect has left it in a state that is costing both lives and livelihoods. We need a significant increase in funding to deliver the upgrades and maintenance the Calder Highway desperately needs.
“Victoria is spending $1,500 per kilometre less than the national average on road maintenance, and this shows in the deteriorating conditions of our regional roads,” Ms Benham said. “We need a long-term, fully funded plan to fix the Calder Highway.
“Labor can’t manage roads, and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
