HELEN Haines, Independent Federal Member for Indi, came to Mansfield Shire on Wednesday 9 April to announce her plan to plug potholes and improve the safety of roads in Indi and beyond.
Dr Haines announced her plan to reboot the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program at the corner of Mansfield-Whitfield Road and Dead Horse Lane.
“It's pretty quiet from the majors regarding the state of regional roads,” she said.
“But regional roads are one of the most common complaints from people coming into my office.
“Roads across Indi have been battered by severe weather events resulting in dangerous potholes and prolonged lane closures.
“We make sure our cars are roadworthy but what we have is roads that are not carworthy.
“It is increasingly dangerous for people navigating country roads at night, including area that are more remote and have intermittent mobile coverage.”
As the Federal Member for Indi, Dr Haines said she has worked closely with her electorate’s councils since 2019 and knows the hurdles they face.
“Councils have to look after 75 per cent of our roads network and they're simply not funded sufficiently to do the prevention work, repair work or indeed any new work," she said.
“When the Labor government got rid of the Local roads and Community Infrastructure Program, they created a lot of problems for our local governments.
“That grant allowed them to get out and work on, not only our roads, but our pavements, our kerbs, our culverts.
“All of those things that contribute to some of the runoff and problems that create a potholes in the first instance.
“So, at this election and into the next Parliament, if I'm re-elected, I will be fighting to have that fund reinstated.
“The $500 million proposal has been costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, which has calculated that Indi would receive an additional $36.3 million over four years
“For Mansfield Shire, it would provide $2.44 million annually, allowing the council to prioritise repairs.”
Dr Haines is also pushing for transparency and fairness in roads funding across the nation.
“Currently, local governments are forced to compete against each other in applying for grant funding," she said.
“We’ve had a lot of success with those applications in Indi.
“We're standing on the corner of Dead Horse Lane and Mansfield Whitfield Road, a perilous intersection where life has tragically been lost, working with council we secured two million dollars in Black Spot Road funding to remedy the intersection’s safety.
“I'm really proud to have been able to assist Mansfield Shire Council to get that money but I want the regular ongoing money as well.
“We must keep fighting for a better deal for roads to keep us safe as we travel to work, school and beyond."
Dr Haines said if she is re-elected she will push both major parties to adopt her policy to fix rural roads for regional Australia.
James Trenery, Liberal Candidate for Indi said regional roads have missed out on critical road funding as a direct result of the Albanese Government’s decision to slash funding for regional road projects by 30 per cent.
“While country roads have been deteriorating, the Albanese Government has cut and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects, and abolished critical road programs for the regions such as Bridges Renewal and Roads of Strategic Importance,” Mr Trenery said.
"A Liberal Government will reinstate the 80:20 federal funding model for nationally significant road projects in regional and remote Australia —ensuring more regional roads and highways get upgraded.
"Our roads are crumbling and are dangerous – its time for change to get the investment we deserve."
Dr Haines and Mr Trenery will meet at the polls to contest the Indi seat on 3 May when the Federal Election is held.