General News
11 June, 2026
MP slams ongoing road deterioration
MEMBER for South West Coast Roma Britnell has called on the Victorian Government to stop making excuses and take meaningful action on roads before someone loses their life.
Roads have been a contentious issue in the south west across the last week after a significant bout of rain saw a number of potholes emerge on major roads throughout the district.
Speaking with Western District Newspapers this week, Ms Britnell said weather had been a convenient excuse for the State Government but the reality was the region’s infrastructure has been neglected for years.
“I’m frustrated and the rain is no excuse,” she said.
“We’ve been getting rain in large amounts forever, such as in 1992.
“We can build roads that don’t fall apart, there is a technology there, but the government simply hasn’t put the resources there.
“I’ve said before that the State Government cannot fill a pothole correctly because the repairs fall apart as soon as a bit of rain comes, and the past week has shown that has become the truth.
“Every dairy farmer who knows how to build tracks knows that this was always going to happen.”
Ms Britnell said it was important to note the roads in the worst condition were state-managed roads, not local roads which are council-managed, which highlighted the issue of years of inadequate investment.
“The government will use the excuse of rain or defend their investments in roads, but I’m exasperated – to be honest,” she said.
“People are saying the roads aren’t built as they should be or we don’t have the technology, but the reality is simple – the government has starved the region of resources for years, and the roads are falling apart as a direct result of it.
“The whole idea of filling potholes, with the government setting key performance indicators to fill potholes, you may as well just be throwing $50 notes in each pothole and driving over that.
“It’s dangerous – we’re seeing people hitting potholes and the damage is just extraordinary.”
Ms Britnell said the poor condition of roads has long been among the biggest concerns for residents, but in recent times the issue has only become worse.
“It’s been at the top of concerns the community has had for years, but it’s exploded over the past few days,” she said.
“People are being harmed and their cars are being damaged.
“How can people drive to the conditions of the road when the condition of the road doesn’t allow them to drive?
“The potholes are full of water or you can’t see them when it’s dark, which is becoming massively destructive to our vehicles and probably to human life.
“You can’t deny these potholes are causing accidents any longer.”
Ms Britnell said significant work was desperately needed.
“Terang to Warrnambool has been pothole central for ages,” she said.
“They keep going along and filling potholes up but the State Government has made a massive error in judgement.
“They are putting our lives at risk by starving our regional funds to fix the roads.
“It’s beyond disappointing now, it’s gotten to a point of negligence.”