A recent report from the Gippsland Forestry Hub has exposed the State Government’s ongoing failure to maintain regional transport infrastructure, warning that deteriorating roads and bridges are directly undermining bushfire preparedness and forest fuel reduction efforts.
The report reveals a regional network no longer “fit for purpose,” with increasing load limits and restrictive transport routes making it difficult to manage the landscape.
It further highlights missed opportunities to shift freight to rail, which would reduce truck movements and improve overall road safety.
The Nationals’ Member for Eastern Victoria and Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, said the government’s refusal to act on these infrastructure failings is leaving Gippsland communities exposed to heightened danger.
“Blocked access hurts jobs, stymies forest fuel reduction work, delays firefighting response, and puts lives at risk,” Ms Bath said.
“You cannot protect the environment and people if machinery and fire trucks cannot access the fire ground in an emergency.”
Ms Bath argued that poor maintenance on state-managed roads is creating a domino effect, pushing heavy trucks onto unsuitable local roads and preventing the movement of essential firefighting crews.
“The Allan Government is failing to perform basic maintenance required for the movement of firefighting crews and equipment to support bushfire preparedness,” she said.
The Gippsland Forestry Hub report identifies several critical infrastructure projects that require urgent state investment, including the long-awaited Traralgon Bypass and the Sale Alternate Truck Route.
It also calls for the removal of 80km/h speed restrictions currently plaguing the Princes Freeway due to road surface concerns.
Ms Bath pointed to a significant funding disparity between the city and the country as the root of the problem, noting that while rural and regional Victoria makes up 25 per cent of the state’s population, it receives only 13 per cent of total infrastructure spending.
“Well-maintained roads, bridges and keeping access open matters,” Ms Bath said.
“Victorians deserve safe roads, effective fuel hazard management, and a state government that plans and acts before disaster strikes – not after.”
As Gippsland enters another season of heightened risk, the report serves as a stark reminder that the region’s ability to defend itself against fire is only as strong as the roads required to reach the front line.
