TWO massive holes have opened up on the Pyrenees Highway between Glenthompson and Willaura causing safety concerns among drivers who took to social media to complain.
The holes have reportedly been there for several months, are only metres apart, almost take up the entire road, and are a VicRoads responsibility.
One concerned driver made their feelings known by spray painting the warning signage.
The pothole reflects the ongoing challenges of maintaining the vast network of roads across the south-west with local MPs long campaigning for more funding.
Rural Councils Victoria yesterday called on the State and Federal Governments to work together to ensure rural and regional roads across the state are safe for passenger and freight vehicles.
The call comes following news reports that the Federal Government is considering massive cuts in its funding model for “nationally significant” roads.
The Federal Government wants to introduce a funding model for those road projects that is a 50:50 Federal/State contribution, down from 80 per cent paid by the federal government in recent years, leaving the cash-strapped state to fill the gap.
Rural Councils Victoria chair, Cr Mary-Ann Brown said rural Victorians should not pay the price for governments fighting.
“RCV calls on both State and Federal Government to work together to find solutions to this problem,” she said.
“We don’t care how government works out the funding – we care about maintaining critical infrastructure that keeps our state moving.”
“We all know that the State Government is facing massive budget pressures and the decision, if followed through, would only make those pressures more intense.
“Following floods and other climate events across the state in recent years, rural and regional roads are in a shocking condition.
“If the Federal funding model means that the State has to put more into particular road projects, we are concerned that those funds will come from essential maintenance and repairs in rural and regional areas.
“Lives and livelihoods are at stake here.”
The Department of Transport and Planning was contacted for comment regarding the road surface and large holes on the Pyrenees Highway.
