MP seeks road funding

MEMBER for Ripon, Louise Staley, is calling on the State Government to reinstate a regional infrastructure funding stream known as the country roads and bridges program.

The scheme was designed to provide funding to rural municipalities to support their road maintenance under the previous Liberal and Nationals government.

It was ended by the Labor Government after the election of Daniel Andrews in 2014 and a similar Regional Roads Victoria initiative ran from 2018 to 2020.

Ms Staley last week called for the program to be funded in the upcoming budget.

“Local roads are in such poor disrepair that we shouldn’t have to wait for a change of government to fund them, so Daniel Andrews needs to act now to bring back the country roads and bridges program,” she said.

The Liberal National coalition has pledged the program’s return if elected in November this year.

“Country councils have big road networks and small populations, so they need help to maintain their roads,” Ms Staley said.

“As an MP covering eight rural local government areas, I’m thrilled a Liberal and Nationals government will reinstate the country roads and bridges program, but Daniel Andrews should do it now. Lives are at stake.”