VicRoads put on notice

Organisation’s approach to rural roads in spotlight

A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into VicRoads’ management of country roads has recommended a “full” investigation into the matter to give individuals and organisations a chance to voice their concerns.

The committee, which was asked to examine the impacts of VicRoads’ existing model on rural and regional areas, found it did not use available data to effectively guide decisionmaking and was maintaining roads on a needs basis, while doing little to proactively preserve good roads.

The inquiry received 278 submissions from individual community members — including 10 from residents in the City of Greater Geelong — and 57 from organisations.

Committee chairman MP Geoff Howard said it was clear there were growing concerns about the quality of roads in rural and regional Victoria.

“The committee recommends that the inquiry be referred to the appropriate committee in the next Parliament for full investigation,” Mr Howard said.

“This will enable a comprehensive public hearing schedule to provide the appropriate platform for individuals and organisations to speak directly to a parliamentary committee about the issues raised.”

The Transport Accident Commission said a “disproportionate number” of people were killed on Victoria’s country roads — a rate of about four times that of city roads.

“With country roads accounting for such a high proportion of the Victorian trauma picture, improving safety on these roads is a priority for the TAC and a fundamental part of the Towards Zero strategy and action plan,” the TAC said.

According to the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, the past two decades have seen a 20 per cent increase in the number of people and freight travelling on Victoria’s major country roads.

The parliamentary report stated that despite the perception urban drivers were at higher risk of crashing on country roads, it was often residents losing their lives.

In 2015-16, VicRoads spent $478.6 million on maintaining road assets but, according to a Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report, its approach is too reactive.

The organisation was criticised for only managing roads in poor condition and not preserving good roads to achieve efficiencies in the long-term.

The VAGO report said despite additional funding provided in 2015, there were still increases in the number of “poor” and “very poor” roads in the South West region in the 10 years to 2015-16, demonstrating the current programs “are not effective for sustaining, let alone improving, pavement condition[s] in the long-term”.

VicRoads is responsible for the planning, management and operation of 25,000km of Victoria’s 200,000km road network, 19,000km of which is located in rural and regional areas.