Potholes on Echuca Rd headed into Shepparton. The VFF says roads across northern Victoria are falling into disrepair as the Victorian Government announces a $1.03 billion funding boost.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Victorian Government’s announcement of a $1.04 billion road maintenance package has drawn a mixed reaction in regional areas, with farming groups warning the funding will not solve the long‑term deterioration of country roads.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Unveiled ahead of the 2026/27 state budget, the government says the package represents the largest road maintenance investment in Victoria’s history, with 70 per cent of funding directed to regional Victoria.
The works are expected to include resurfacing and rebuilding arterial roads, cleaning up graffiti along thoroughfares, maintaining bridges and traffic lights, emergency road repairs and roadside maintenance.
The government says the funding will be enough to repair up to 200,000 potholes statewide and build on works already under way, which saw almost 187,000 potholes fixed over the past year.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the investment was focused on safety and reliability, particularly outside Melbourne.
“This is the biggest roads blitz in the state’s history, and most of that money is going to regional Victoria,” she said.
Roads and Road Safety Minister Ros Spence said motorists were already seeing the benefits of sustained road spending.
“Victorians are already seeing the results, now we’re doubling down to rebuild and repair the roads people rely on every day,” she said.
Some locals have even taken to decorating potholes. Picture taken on High Rd, Murchison, near Thornebridge.
However, the VFF said the funding fell short of what was required to address the scale of the problem on rural roads.
VFF acting president Peter Star said while any increase was welcome, the announcement mainly reflected rising construction costs and failed to tackle the growing maintenance backlog.
“This funding is like putting a band‑aid on a broken leg,” Mr Star said, warning that many regional roads had become serious safety risks.
The VFF has renewed calls for an additional $500 million per year in ongoing road funding, arguing that poor road conditions are holding back regional communities and the agricultural economy.
Despite the criticism, the government says it has committed nearly $3 billion to road maintenance over the past three years, insisting the latest funding will continue to improve safety across Victoria’s regional road network.
