The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has called on the Allan Labor Government and the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, to repair the damaged wire rope road safety barriers along the Midland Highway that have been sitting damaged for months.
“My office has been contacted by concerned constituents about the current road safety risk we have on the Midland Highway, between Tatura and Mooroopna.
“Alarmingly there are many road safety barriers that have been damaged and neglected over a long period of time. We know that this is not the only area where wire rope barriers are being neglected.
“I also recently met with Road Safe Goulburn Valley who have also raised their concerns regarding the neglect of the of the road safety barriers.
“These barriers are designed to protect motorists, yet they are lying on the ground for months. They are only effective if they are maintained.
“We have to do all that we can to protect motorists and so far, this year, we have seen an increase of 11.8 per cent in the number of lives lost on Victorian roads, with fatalities on regional roads up alarmingly by 16 per cent”, Ms O’Keeffe said.
Despite the Allan Labor Government claiming record amounts on roads, Labor’s own budget papers show a shocking 93 per cent reduction in roads patching and a further 14 per cent cut on resealing and rehabilitation.
“The government’s own data showed that 91 per cent of roads surveyed were either in poor or very poor condition.
“Across our region and broadly speaking, rural and regional Victoria, we are seeing the direct impact of these cuts on our roads.
“I repeatedly call on the government and the Minister to do more when it comes to repairing our roads and road maintenance and the wire rope barriers are just another sign of neglect by the Labor Government.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage our roads and Victorians are paying the price.”
