Robinvale-Sea Lake Road awaits ‘urgent’ repairs, says Cupper

A VICTORIAN Government “blitz” announced in October last year to repair regional roads has yet to begin “urgent” works to the to the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road, State Parliament has been told.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper this week said the road has been the focus of sustained campaigning from the community for many years and quickly became one of her priority projects.

However, Ms Cupper said that despite the government assurances that 1500km of regional roads would be repaired, rebuilt and resurfaced, the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road remained in a “dilapidated state”.

“The road is too narrow in parts for two cars to pass without moving on to the hard shoulder and in some parts the shoulder is so degraded that the drop between the road surface and the dirt is 10 to 15 centimetres,” Ms Cupper said.

“On October 1 the government announced that the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road would be getting urgent upgrades as part of a $600 million road blitz,” she said.

“But the communities of Manangatang and Robinvale are yet to see the commencement of any works along the road other than at the intersection with the Hattah-Robinvale Road, which is part of a separate project.

“Understandably, they are growing concerned that the longer the road stays in its current dilapidated state, the higher the chance that a serious accident will occur.”

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Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road would be among “key roads” among the government’s road repair blitz.

“From fixing potholes, to the biggest projects the state has ever seen, we are building a better transport network for all Victorians,” Ms Pulford said.

However, Ms Cupper said the government’s “piecemeal” $2.9 million for urgent repairs to the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road only served to restore the 100km/h speed limit that had been reduced to an “untenable” 80km/h.

“Even after these repairs, the road will not be capable of handling the 10,000 additional truck movements that will result from the stalled standardisation of the Murray Basin rail line,” she said.

“Many of our roads need attention, but as a starting point, will the Premier commit to funding the $30 million needed to rebuild the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road for the benefit of our community and the economy of the entire state?”

The state of the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road was first raised in State Parliament in May 2016 by former Nationals Member for Mildura Peter Crisp.

Mr Crisp said at the time it would not take a great deal of money to put a metre of extra tarmac down to widen the shoulders of the road and make it a road that was safe for traffic.