Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has called on the State and Federal Labor Governments to urgently invest in fixing the Princes Highway and major arterial roads across Gippsland.
Mr Chester said recent incidents highlighted the dangerous condition of the road network and the State Government’s failure to properly maintain key transport routes.
“To be clear, the Princes Highway and major arterial roads are the responsibility of the State Government, which owns and is meant to maintain them,” Mr Chester said.
“But Gippslanders are paying the price for years of neglect, with damaged vehicles, dangerous driving conditions and an increased risk of accidents.
“Instead of continually lowering speed limits on major roads to 80 kilometres per hour, they need to fix the bloody roads.”
Mr Chester said the former Federal Coalition Government had invested heavily in Gippsland’s road network, including funding 80 per cent of the Princes Highway duplication between Traralgon and Sale.
“The Coalition provided funding for major improvements, including six new overtaking lanes east of Bairnsdale and streetscape safety improvements in Sale, Bairnsdale, Nicholson, Johnsonville, Swan Reach, Lakes Entrance, Newmerella and Cann River,” Mr Chester said.
“These projects improved safety, productivity and connectivity for locals, freight operators and visitors.
“Sadly, the Andrews-Allan-Carroll Governments and the Albanese Government have failed to maintain the highway, and our communities are now paying the price.”
Mr Chester said the Albanese Government had failed to provide any new funding for the Princes Highway in Gippsland since coming to office.
“Since coming to government four years ago, the Albanese Government has not provided a single dollar of new funding for the Princes Highway in Gippsland,” Mr Chester said.
“Labor has also abolished the Roads of Strategic Importance program, which provided funding for arterial routes to improve safety, productivity and connectivity in regional areas.
“That is a direct blow to communities like ours, where safe and reliable roads are essential for families, freight operators, tourists, emergency services and the regional economy.”
