Mr Bartlett said pre-planning for works would typically begin now, with induction in early September.
“That’s now been put in jeopardy,” he said.
However, a government spokesperson told The Weekly Advertiser as the publication went to press last night the State Government was investing an additional $2.8 billion across 10 years into road maintenance and renewal works, including flood recovery.
The spokesperson said the department’s road maintenance experts were finalising a works package to deliver maintenance projects across the state.
“We have a long history of making unprecedented investments in maintaining Victoria’s roads and that investment will continue in 2023-24 and beyond, with an additional $2.8 billion set to be spent on maintaining our roads and flood recovery over the next 10 years,” the spokesperson said.
“This extra funding means at least $6.6 billion will be invested in road asset management on Victoria’s road network over the next decade.
“That includes $770 million this financial year – an investment that will rebuild, repair and resurface those roads that need it most.”
Mr Bartlett said state road network funding accounted for at least half of VSA Roads’ income – and was equivalent to about $10 million in revenue annually.
InRoads is among the state’s largest road surfacing group of companies, known collectively as VSA Roads.
It has provided specialist road surfacing services to local and state road networks throughout the southern, western and northern regions of Victoria for the past 40 years. About 70 percent of its workforce is employed seasonally.
Mr Bartlett said a continual decline in state road funding to reseal the rural road network had forced InRoads to downsize last year from three road surfacing crews to two crews of about 20 people each.
“We are fortunate, in Horsham, the local council is a great supporter of us and so are the surrounding municipalities. But one crew is sufficient to look after the local road network; the other crew would look after the state network,” he said.
Mr Bartlett said any funding changes could be felt far beyond InRoads crews, impacting the supply chain of raw materials as well as indirect spending such as accommodation, meals and fuel. The roads surfacing industry employs more than 300 people regionally.
“While it might seem like 20 people out of a Horsham business, the connected supply chain impacts are significant,” he said.
Mr Bartlett likened the maintenance requirements of roads to that of painting weatherboard homes.
He said bitumen had about a 15-year lifecycle and the road network required regular resealing to maintain its waterproof integrity and protect it from traffic stress.
He said previous governments aimed to maintain about eight percent of the rural road network per year – which resulted in an average resurfacing lifecycle of 12 years and ensured the network could cope with increasing traffic movements, especially heavy vehicles, along with significant weather events.
“A less resilient road network will deteriorate at a more rapid rate – especially during wetter seasons,” he said.
“Our rural main road and highway network has quickly become one that resembles a patchwork quilt with short-term quick fixes becoming the norm. Our road maintenance bill is set to exponentially grow and our once safe driving conditions will become a thing of the past if we don’t make a concerted effort to return to the prescribed resurfacing regime given the ageing profile of our pavements.”
Mr Bartlett said the industry had challenged traditional practices, and designed and invested in new technologies following a ban of reversing tip-trucks, in place from July 2022.
The ban sought to eliminate the safety risks associated with spreading aggregate via a reversing vehicle.
Mr Bartlett said VSA Roads had invested more than $7 million in new equipment, which was imported from Germany and designed for Australian conditions; it had further equipment worth $2.5 million being manufactured locally that it would no longer require if works were not secured.
He predicted the industry had invested more than $10 million in the past two years in readiness for new work practices.
“This investment was made on the back of a common understanding of the lifecycle of pavements and the need for continual, annual routine maintenance funding,” he said.
Lives at risk
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said July 1 signalled an increase to many household costs, including vehicle registrations – which were designed to contribute to roads maintenance.
“We know our roads are in serious need of funding, and to be repaired, and yet we’re seeing Labor increase registration fees and we’re hearing there is uncertainty about funding for the rural roads resurfacing program for this coming financial year,” she said.
“It costs 18 times more to fix, than to replace, a road. Simple waterproofing can mean we get years more out of our roads and it keeps people safe.
“A lack of maintenance on rural roads could have a devastating impact for road users, increase costs and the need for repairs to vehicles and could put lives at risk.”
The entire July 12, 2023 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
The entire July 12, 2023 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
