By Mikayla van Loon
On Monday 30 January, Federal Liberal shadow ministers met with Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges residents to discuss the cancellation of funding for road sealing in the region.
Bringing together disappointed residents who had hoped their roads would finally be sealed, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie and Casey MP Aaron Violi spoke with locals about their concerns.
One resident who attended the meeting, Max Lamb, said as someone who lives on a dirt road the thought of not being dust affected anymore was something he was looking forward to.
“I’m a little bit upset because we were promised we’d have our road sealed,” he said.
Having been promised many times before, Mr Lamb said this was the first time his road had been included in a funding program for sealing.
“We knew it was on the program…I don’t know what happens now, it’s all up in the air.”
While the financing to seal Mr Lamb’s road hadn’t yet been decided on, it had been included by Yarra Ranges Council in the $150 million Roads for Community program.
Sick of the constant dust throughout summer and the grading during winter, Mr Lamb said sealing the roads lowers council maintenance costs and time, particularly as wetter summers and winters begin to become the norm.
By attending the meeting on Monday, Mr Lamb hoped it would help show the Federal government the disappointment of residents in the Hills and foothills.
The road sealing program was a $300 million commitment from the Coalition government when it was at the helm to help Yarra Ranges Council and Cardinia Council asphalt 187 kilometres and 110 kilometres of road respectively.
In the Labor government’s October budget, $146.5 million was cut from the combined road sealing program where contracts had not yet been signed between contractors, the council and residents.
“The Australian Government had a commitment with local community members to seal their roads and that commitment should be honoured,” Senator McKenzie said.
In most cases, roads identified as needing to be sealed came under a joint agreement between the council and the residents of said roads in a special charge scheme, which would see residents contributing to the overall cost through their rates over a certain period of time.
“Families have put their own money on the table to partner in sealing these roads and it is cruel for Labor to take the money off the table and walk away from the problem,” Senator McKenzie said.
Concerned for residents’ safety and access, Mr Violi said this funding was important for ensuring ongoing prosperity in the Casey electorate.
“Residents have raised concerns about past incidents on these roads and the opportunity for a safer, sealed road network in the Dandenong Ranges to support access for emergency vehicles in the event of bushfire or other disaster,” he said.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood, who presides over much of the Cardinia Council area, said this is another cost of living hit to families in the La Trobe electorate who will be left to pay a higher cost to seal local roads at a time when household bills keep going up.
“Unsealed roads need extensive maintenance to keep them safe, grading and fixing potholes, as well as use of dust suppressant, all of which has to come from council rates paid by landholders,” he said.
“This important project would have helped reduce the burden on ratepayers to constantly maintain the roads in a car-worthy condition.”
A spokesperson for federal Transport Minister Catherine King told Star Mail in early January the Australian Government has provided $66.8 million to date to deliver a large number of projects to seal and upgrade roads across the Dandenong Ranges region.
“There are over 500 local government areas nationwide and this was a special carve out by the Coalition for just two councils in marginal electorates,” the spokesperson said.
“The Australian Government was clear that all infrastructure projects would be reviewed line by line to ensure value for taxpayers money.”
Senator McKenzie, Mr Violi and Mr Wood are calling on the Labor government to reconsider the funding in the next budget.
