By Sumeyya Ilanbey
Money raised from speeding cameras and on-the-spot fines will be used to fix suburban and country roads.
The state government last week introduced laws to establish the Better Roads Victoria Fund to re-direct fine revenue to road upgrades.
Under the new laws, outer-suburban and country roads will each receive at least one-third of the funds. The remaining money will be used to repair and upgrade roads and level crossings anywhere in the state.
The state government said this would enable VicRoads to divert its resources to areas in most need, and guarantee money raised from fines and speed cameras will go back to the community.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the legislation would ensure suburban and country roads were upgraded and fixed, irrespective of VicRoads’ funding priorities.
“In 2014, we said we’d spend $2 billion over eight years to fix roads in the outer suburbs and in country Victoria – we’ve already delivered and far exceeded that commitment,” he said.
The commitment follows the release of an interim report into VicRoads’ management of country roads. The report found regional and rural roads were in poor condition after being neglected for too long.
The Coalition has been contacted for comment.
