Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has unveiled a record $1.04 billion road maintenance package, pledging to fix up to 200,000 potholes across the state as pressure mounts over deteriorating roads ahead of the next election.
The funding, to be included in the 2026–27 state budget, has been described by the government as the largest road maintenance investment in Victoria’s history. Around 70 per cent of the allocation will be directed to regional areas, targeting ageing arterial roads, bridge upgrades and roadside maintenance.
The announcement comes after sustained political pressure from Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, who has been running a campaign accusing the government of neglecting road conditions.
In a highly publicised move, Wilson even filmed herself filling potholes in Melbourne’s election-sensitive Nepean electorate, using the stunt to highlight what she described as worsening infrastructure across the state.
Under the new package, road crews will be tasked with repairing up to 200,000 potholes and removing a similar number of graffiti tags, alongside broader works including traffic light repairs, sign replacement and emergency road fixes. The program also includes a $36.9 million clean-up blitz across 10 of Melbourne’s busiest freeways, including the Monash, West Gate and Hume corridors.
Premier Allan said the investment was about improving safety and reliability for drivers across Victoria. “We know Victorians rely on our roads every day, and this funding will ensure they are safer, smoother and more reliable,” she said.
Transport Minister Ros Spence said the focus would be on maintaining existing infrastructure while delivering targeted upgrades in high-use areas. She noted that regional roads, which carry heavy freight and agricultural traffic, would be a priority.
The government says the new funding builds on last year’s near-$1 billion maintenance effort, which saw crews repair 187,000 potholes, remove more than 127,000 square metres of graffiti and maintain nearly two million metres of roadside vegetation.
Despite the scale of the investment, the timing of the announcement is likely to fuel political debate, with the opposition arguing the government is responding late to a problem it has long ignored.
The road repair package forms part of a broader cost-of-living strategy, with the Allan government also pointing to measures such as discounted vehicle registration and public transport fares as part of its response to rising household pressures.
With road conditions emerging as a key election issue, the $1.04 billion commitment is expected to be a central battleground as both sides compete to convince voters that they can deliver safer, more reliable infrastructure across Victoria.
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