Better value for money and safer roads

The Situation

The state of disrepair of Victoria’s state-managed regional roads is well-established.

It has led to record levels of investment from the state government in 2025-26 and 2026-27.

But record investment has not, to date, resulted in an improvement of the road surfaces on state-managed roads in Mansfield Shire or wider Victoria.

Band-aid fixes which crumble within months do not represent a good outcome for the taxpayer or the motorists using these roads.

This need for improved safety is highlighted by the fact that 50% of Victoria’s road fatalities occur in Regional Victoria despite the fact it accounts for just 25% of the population. We must make our roads safe.

The Solution

Mansfield Shire Council is advocating for the state government to review its model of investment in the repair and maintenance of state-managed roads in Mansfield Shire and Regional Victoria.

We believe New South Wales’ current practical approach provides better value for money and longer lasting fixes.

We ask that instead of centralising road fixes, that the state government sends the funding to councils to allow local scoping and supervision and a better use of thesignificant investment.