Pearcedale residents say the state of their roads is “unbelievable“ and “dangerous“.
Pearcedale local Janice Mills said “like many rural roads in Victoria, the roads in Pearcedale are dangerous because of potholes“.
“In addition, the unsealed roads do not have proper drains so regularly flood when we have heavy rain,“ she said.
Pearcedale resident Susan Adams said Baxter-Tooradin Road is a “joke“.
“Millions spent to make the road 100 times more hazardous than prior,“ she said.
“I’m sure there are countless people with damages caused to their cars from the crater like potholes, unlit wire barriers and hydroplaning from the pathetic surface, myself included.“
Linda Ross said “driving along Eramosa Rd to Somerville and back each day is like sitting in a paint mixing machine“.
“If I drive any closer to the side of the roads to avoid potholes, I’m going to be driving in the paddocks,“ she said.
Brendan Piner also raised concern over the state of North Road, which he said is “the most dangerous road in Pearcedale“.
“There are accidents there nearly every week,“ he said.
“Too much traffic, wrong speed limit and a narrow road.“
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region has raised the ongoing surface degeneration on the Baxter-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale.
Ms Bath criticised the state of the road from the South Gippsland Highway to the Fisheries Rd-Cannons Creek roundabout in state parliament on 21 June.
Ms Bath said the state of the roads and road maintenance under Labor is deplorable and locals are justifiably concerned about driver safety and damage to the vehicles.
“Four years ago, this busy thoroughfare received a four million dollar upgrade which took two years to complete, but frustratingly the funding did not extend to fixing the road surface,” said Ms Bath.
“The Andrews Government’s half-baked upgrades do not address road safety issues – installing additional protective mechanisms like roundabouts and wire barriers without surface remediation is counterproductive.
“Road upgrades must be constructed to a standard that ensures they are car worthy, given the Andrews Government demands our cars are road worthy.“
Ms Bath said commuters should not be risking damage to their vehicles, forced to dodge potholes.
“Locals state each time there is a decent rainfall the road surface on the Baxter-Tooradin Road deteriorates into a pothole riddled hazard.”
Ms Bath said Labor needs to address what constitutes an acceptable standard of work – shovelling hot mix into a pothole is a temporary fix and fails to address the root cause of the failing road surface.
“In the upcoming financial year, the Andrews Labor Government had shockingly cut another 25 per cent from the roads maintenance budget, bringing its cuts to a whopping $380 million or 45 per cent since 2020.
“Our roads are in a dire state – barely a day goes by without someone raising with me the deplorable state of the roads.
“Instead of cutting the road maintenance budget, Labor should be increasing it, in line with the $1 billion per year commitment The Nationals took to last year’s election.
Ms Bath said she believes Victorians are paying more but receiving much less under the Andrews Government – we are the highest taxed state in Australia.
“The Andrews Government must ensure a fairer share for roads maintenance so that our roads in regional Victoria and in peri urban areas can be properly repaired and maintained.”
The potholes along Baxter-Tooradin road have been patched up as of 27 June.
“Crews are out and about across our area doing maintenance work and road repairs,“ Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said.
“If our community members can jump on the Vicroads website and report any road hazards that would be appreciated as it formally logs the request into the system.
“I do this as well and have done for certain sections of these two roads (Tooradin/Baxter and Fisheries).“
Ms Crugnale said works on the road are expected to start later this year.
“The Department of Transport and Planning regularly inspects the road network and is planning to deliver maintenance works on Baxter-Tooradin Rd between Fisheries Road and South Gippsland Highway,“ she said.
“Crews will continue to monitor and manage this road, and carry out any necessary short-term works to keep the road in a safe condition until the upgrade works are programmed.“
In the meantime, Ms Crugnale is urging residents to “drive to local conditions“.
“We have all seen too many cars overtake us at high speed even with oncoming traffic a bit too close – this is dangerous and not worth a life or an accident. “
In a question posed by Ms Crugnale to Minister for Roads Hon Melissa Horne MP, she referred to the aforementioned roads as “awkward to navigate“ and “dangerous“.
The Andrews Labor Government announced $15.4 million in the 2022-23 Victorian Budget to improve safety and accessibility at the intersection of South Gippsland Highway and Clyde Five Ways Road in Devon Meadows.
Ms Horne said he Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has commenced work to redesign the intersection.
“This work will consider ways to realign Fisheries Road and consolidate intersections to replace them with a single intersection controlled by traffic lights,“ she said.
“Project development activities are currently underway with input being sought from key stakeholders as well as progressing designs and undertaking site specific investigations.
“Project updates and further information is expected to be shared with the community in mid-2023.“
