The amount of speed reduction signs due to poor road surface has been raised in State Parliament by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.
Mr Bull said the increasing number of both temporary hazard signs and permanent speed reduction signs going up is frustrating motorists.
“In relation to the first matter, it is a case of signs going up rather than fixing the roads, and on the second count, the frustrating element is the complete lack of community consultation,” he said.
“Ironically, the day after I raised this issue in Parliament, 80km signs were erected on the Stratford – Maffra Road.
“This is a straight road with farmland either side, has good visual capability, and is in better condition than many other roads in the area.
“What has angered community members is the complete lack of consultation in either Stratford or Maffra. That is just a common courtesy after VicRoads gave me an undertaking it would consult on speed limit reductions,” he said.
“The traffic hazard ahead signs are on roads (but not limited to) such as the Princes Highway, Monaro Highway, Great Alpine Road, Bonang Highway (all multiple locations), Paynesville Road and Bullumwaal Road, and they’ve all been up for extended periods.
“In the case of Bullumwaal Road, the same stretch has had a sign up for over four years. Surely it is time to fix the road.
“Never before have we seen so many ‘traffic hazard ahead’ signs on our roads and it is state-wide, not just in this area.
“It is a symptom of reduced road funding, which is at a lower level than it was five years ago, and that can really only end one way. The government blames floods, but the only issue is – we haven’t had floods in these areas!
“Roads are not being repaired properly and there have been many cases where potholes are repeatedly refilled when more major work is needed to fix the underlying problem,” said Mr Bull.
“I have asked the Minister: How many locations in East Gippsland currently have speed limit restrictions due to poor road condition (excluding road works)? How does this compare to 2015 and 2020?
“I doubt whether I will get a straight answer as it will be embarrassing.”
Mr Bull said in a recent response he was told by the Roads Minister that across East Gippsland, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, South Gippsland and Wellington, a total of just 10km of road will undergo full rehabilitation in the upcoming period.
Leader of the Nationals and Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, said the fact the Minister believes this is a reasonable level of road work across Gippsland is laughable.
“This is reflective of the abject neglect of our roads under Labor, especially in rural and regional Victoria,” Mr Obrien said.
