Community
20 December, 2024
Spotlight on potholes
MOTORISTS across the district are being urged to highlight what they consider are the worst potholes in the state.
In a statement issued late last week, Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said motorists were encouraged to highlight the potholes through a new competition to bring added pressure on the state government to fix the roads.
The Nationals and Liberals are running a state-wide photo competition with the best (or worst) potholes to feature in a 2025 ‘Potholes for All Seasons’ calendar.
The calendar will be presented to Premier Jacinta Allan and Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne.
“I encourage residents to take photos of potholes or road damage they believe is in the most urgent need of attention,” Ms Britnell said.
“Victoria’s roads have been going backwards for years and we all know our roads are in a deplorable state.
“This calendar will be one way for motorists to vent while at the same time putting pressure on the government to act on maintaining our roads.”
Ms Britnell believes the government’s own survey last year found 91 per cent of roads reviewed were in a poor or very poor state.
Recent data from the Department of Transport and Planning showed the area of road rehabilitated or resurfaced in regional Victoria fell to just 422,000 square metres in 2023/24.
This was down from nine million the year before and 11.5 million in the previous year.
“This is a disastrous state of affairs because the lack of maintenance will just mean more potholes and damaged roads will appear in the future,” Ms Britnell said.
“We need to highlight the problem and get some action.”
She said motorists should only take photos of roads where they can do so safely and without putting themselves and other road users at risk.
All photos can be submitted online at www.potholepics.com.
