To the Legislative Council of Victoria:
The petition of certain citizens of the state of Victoria draws to the attention of the house the Napthine Liberal-Nationals state government’s severe lack of funding and resources to maintain regional roads in Victoria. In particular, we note:
1. roads across Victoria have been left to deteriorate since the Liberal-Nationals coalition came to government, with $100 million being cut from roads maintenance in 2012, and 450 staff cut from VicRoads, including many experienced engineers;
2. the government is now playing catch-up to maintain regional roads that have deteriorated thanks to its own neglect, but still fails to provide enough funding for roads maintenance;
3. the $466 million announced this year is still below previous years in 2011-12 of $493 million and 2010-11 of $480 million;
4. over 80 per cent of new roads funding in 2013 from the Napthine government is being spent in Melbourne, and regional road resurfacing targets remain lower than previous years, with only 6.9 million square metres targeted this year, a drop from 11 million square metres in 2011-12.
The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council urges the coalition government to immediately reinstate all funding and resources cut from roads maintenance in rural and regional Victoria and guarantee that no further cuts will be made.
By Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria) (139 signatures).
Laid on table.