General News
15 February, 2024
Britnell keeps “crumbling” roads on agenda
MEMBER for South-West Coast Roma Britnell has reignited her call for the government to deliver investment to address the “appalling” state of south west Victorian roads.
Ms Britnell marked the return of the Parliamentary sitting program for 2024 by raising the state of roads across the region.
She remarked roads would again be a key focus for her in 2024 due to the continued inaction of the state government, which has resulted in an increasing number of potholes and road degradation across the electorate.
“Lives are lost in South-West Coast and lives are lost across Victoria because of Labor’s refusal to act,” Ms Britnell said.
“It is not unreasonable to expect the quality of roads in the regions are the same as our city roads, especially when the risks are so much higher in regional areas.
“Milk tankers for example are two and a half times more likely to crash than regular trucks.
“Despite the higher risk, South-West Coast has some of the worst roads in the state, which simply wouldn’t be acceptable in Melbourne.”
Ms Britnell said excuses for why funding would not flow, or suggestion the region was simply destined to have dangerous, subpar roads was no longer acceptable.
As she has during numerous Parliamentary sittings over the years, Mrs Britnell once again extended an invitation for Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne and Premier Jacinta Allan to visit the region and experience the degradation of state-maintained roads first hand.
“At the last State Election, the Labor candidate for South-West Coast liked to claim that South-West Coast suffered from “the tyranny of distance and high rainfall” but it is the mismanagement by Victorian Labor that has left our roads crumbling,” Ms Britnell said.
“It is time Labor came down here and had a look at the roads firsthand.
“I have asked this in Parliament previously and I will not rest until the Minister and Premier come to see for themselves, and finally act.”