ROBINVALE ward councillor Jade Benham has taken aim at an announcement that the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road will receive $2.9 million for maintenance, arguing that the road needs to be reconstructed instead.
Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Minister Jaala Pulford this week told Sunraysia Daily that the road, which was recently the subject of community protests in Managatang and Mildura, would “get the attention it deserves” and confirmed it “is included in the upcoming maintenance program,” after announcing a drop in the speed limit to 80km/h from 100km/h.
However, Cr Benham said she was led to believe the road was always on the Regional Roads Maintenance program.
“It’s not maintenance that’s needed,” Cr Benham said.
“It needs to be reconstructed to deal with the freight it’s carrying and will continue to carry, especially whilst we’re also being shafted with the Murray Basin Rail Project.
“It’s all carrying precious cargo – be it grain, grapes, nuts, carrots, avocados or children, mothers and fathers – it’s all precious.
“I’m so sick of being made to feel like our cargo is less so than what the roads to the south of Bendigo carry.”
Questions to Ms Pulford from Sunraysia Daily about when work is expected to start and finish and whether the upgrade was decided upon before or after the community protests went unanswered.
“Works will include strengthening shoulders and smoothing the road surface on some stretches, allowing the speed limit to return to 100 km/h,” Ms Pulford said.
“Regional Roads Victoria has gone away to confirm their plans for this project including timeframes and I’ve asked them to do this as quickly as possible.”
