Overview
- The Carroll government announced on Sunday that it will increase planned pothole repairs from 250,000 to 500,000 at a cost of $352 million.
- Funding for the extra work will come partly from deferring the completion of three level crossing removals in Highett and Mentone and from planner‑identified savings.
- Road crews will prioritise major arterial routes and regional corridors such as the Geelong Ring Road, Western Highway, Calder Highway and Princes Highway and will start work as rain eases and continue into January.
- The opposition criticised the timing as an election move and said the package falls short of its July pledge of $5 billion over four years to repair and rebuild roads, including one million potholes.
- The move responds to rising concern about road safety and vehicle damage after recent incidents on the Princes Freeway at Bunyip and follows existing road maintenance budgets of more than $1 billion.