by Cam Lucadou-Wells
Liberal by-election candidate Courtney Mann says potholes on Wellington Road is a symptom of State Government “neglect”.
Over the past 10 years, the Government had spent $380,000 to maintain the arterial road’s section in the Mulgrave electorate, according to a Roads Minister response last week to a Liberal question in State Parliament.
A further $240,000 has been allocated for the 2023-’24 financial year.
“Nine years of neglect on one of our most used roads. It is just not good enough,” Mann posted on social media days ahead of the 18 November by-election.
“Another example that Labor neglects Mulgrave.”
In a later statement, he added: “Labor has spent a paltry amount of money on maintaining Wellington Road since coming to office.
“If Labor hadn’t wasted over $30 billion on major project cost blowouts, they could have fixed Mulgrave’s roads, but instead the local community are paying the price.”
Roads opposition spokesperson Danny O’Brien said Victorian Labor had “cut millions from roads maintenance and a reduction in federal funds”.
“As a result, our roads are in a dire condition, with potholes increasing damage to cars and making traffic problems even worse.”
Roads Minister Melissa Horne stated Wellington Road was inspected for hazards twice a week between Stud Road and Princes Highway.
“This is to ensure the road network is kept in a safe condition by implementing maintenance as required.”
Overall $2.3 million had been spent resurfacing and repairing Wellington Road between December 2014-June 2023 – $1.8 million of which was in the Rowville electorate.
In 2023-’24, a further $3.61 million was allocated for the entire arterial – which spans from Clayton to Narre Warren East.
Of this, $240,000 will be allocated to the Mulgrave electorate – $3.33 million will go to the Rowville and Monbulk seats.
“The Government is investing an additional $2.8 billion over 10 years in road maintenance and renewal works including flood recovery, bringing the overall investment into maintaining Victoria’s Road assets to $6.6 billion over that same 10-year period,” Horne stated.
“This new multi-year funding approach means it can plan a long-term road maintenance program and deliver works strategically across the state. The funding will allow a more efficient and sustainable approach to road maintenance over the next decade.
“A total of $770 million will be delivered to maintain Victoria’s Road assets in 2023-24.”
Meanwhile, the Victorian Electoral Commission has reported that 11.6 per cent of voters – 5640 – have voted in the first week of early voting.
A further 10 per cent have applied for postal votes.
Early voting centres operate this week at Suite G.02 (Ground Floor), 745 Springvale Road Mulgrave and 1/245-255 Browns Road, Noble Park North.
Postal vote applications close at 6 pm this Wednesday 15 November.
The by-election on Saturday will decide who will replace former Premier Daniel Andrews as the Mulgrave MP.
