The Victorian Government has again delayed the long-promised upgrade of Mallacoota-Genoa Road until 2028, despite sitting on $10 million in federal funding secured back in 2021-22.
Local MP, Tim Bull, paid credit to his Federal Nationals’ colleague, Darren Chester, for securing the funding after the Black Summer Bushfires, following strong advocacy from the Mallacoota and District Recovery Committee, but said what should have been a straightforward recovery project has instead become a glaring example of Labor’s chronic financial mismanagement.
Mr Bull said the facts speak for themselves.
“Five years on, not only is the road still not fixed, but Labor has managed to chew through $3 million – one third of the funding – on consultants and paperwork. Not a safer road, not a finished section, just reports,” Mr Bull said.
“This is exactly what Victorians are fed up with, millions spent, nothing delivered. It’s waste on a massive scale.
“If this is how the Government handles a fully funded, ‘shovel-ready’ recovery project, it’s no wonder regional infrastructure is falling behind.”
Mr Bull said the delay is more than just frustrating, it highlights a government that fundamentally cannot manage money or priorities.
“This road was cut off for six weeks during the fires. We know what’s at stake. Yet instead of getting on with the job, Labor has tied it up in bureaucracy and burned through millions along the way,” he said.
“Regional communities should not be asked to wait eight years for something that should have been done in two. That’s not just mismanagement, it’s complete neglect.”
The Nationals’ Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, said that building a more resilient access road was the number one priority for local residents after the bushfires which saw the town isolated for weeks.
“The Andrews-Allan Government refused to help so we secured the money from the Federal Government but not a single dollar has been spent on actually fixing the road in five years,” Mr Chester said.
“It’s an absolute disgrace and just another example of Melbourne Labor Ministers treating regional people with contempt.”
Mr Bull said it was time for the Allan Labor Government to stop hoarding funding and start delivering outcomes.
“The money is there. The need is clear. The only thing missing is a government capable of delivering,” Mr Bull said.
