Rural councils applaud plan

Agroup

representing Victoria’s rural councils has welcomed a Victorian Liberal-national Coalition pledge to provide significant funding for rural roads and bridges.

Rural Councils Victoria said the Coalition’s promise that all Victorian rural shire councils would receive about $1-million a year for four years if elected at November’s state election was timely.

Rural Councils Victoria chairman Cr Rob Gersch of Nhill said the program would make a huge difference to rural councils, which continually advocated for greater funding to fix ageing rural roads.

“This has been one of the major advocacy issues that Rural Councils Victoria has lobbied for on behalf of our rural communities,” he said.

“In our submission to the 2018-19 Victorian Budget we made it clear that our roads are the links that keep rural Victoria’s economy alive. But they’re falling apart.

“With small ratepayer populations, limited sources of revenue and thousands of kilometres of roads to maintain, rural councils are struggling to manage extensive road and bridge infrastructure.

“State Government support means the difference between a dangerous and poorly maintained road network and a vibrant rural economy.

“This cash investment would go a long way to maintaining the key road links that keep Victoria’s produce and visitor economy going.

“We welcome the pledge made by the Coalition and call on the Labor Government to share our commitment to ensuring that rural councils will be able to maintain the roads all Victorians rely on.”