Cardinia calls for critical funding to seal roads

Council is seeking $109 million for road sealing in emergency-prone areas in the northern region of the shire, including Emerald, Cockatoo, Gembrook and surrounding towns.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik said the shire’s hills communities were home to an extensive network of unsealed roads.

“Our communities in the Dandenong Ranges contend with a vast network of unsealed roads that present significant safety, maintenance and amenity issues,” Mayor Kowarzik said.

“Our community has been asking for safe, reliable roads in this part of the shire to ensure emergency services have access during times of emergency, such as bushfires and storms, and that residents can leave safely if they need to.

“Sealing these roads will help ensure that residents and emergency services can still access homes and businesses during storm events and that they have access to escape routes during periods of high bushfire danger.”

The former Federal Government committed $150 million over 10 years to seal roads in the northern region of the shire but following the change of government, only $41 million has been provided.  

“Council is committed to continuing the road sealing program via the remaining Federal funding and the special charge scheme currently in place, with more than 38 roads already complete or underway,” Mayor Kowarzik said.

“However, an additional 125 roads that were expected to be sealed under this program now remain unfunded. This equates to almost 100km of unsealed roads that are no longer funded for upgrades.

“Both Emerald and Cockatoo have more than 50 roads each that have missed out, in addition to many more roads in other parts of the hills.

“Residents in these areas have put up with dust and potholes impacting their quality of life for long enough and want their roads to be sealed.”

Mayor Kowarzik said maintenance costs for unsealed roads was significantly higher than sealed roads.

“Our unsealed road network requires Council to commit millions of dollars in ongoing maintenance costs every year. As traffic and adverse weather events increase, so too does the financial burden of grading and maintaining these unsealed roads.

“Maintenance of our unsealed road network is a significant cost to Council each year, diverting funds away from other much needed services and projects across the shire. Reinstating funding to seal the extensive road network in the hills will dramatically reduce ongoing maintenance costs for Council, allowing us to invest in other essential services and projects, including addressing our unsealed road network in the southern part of the shire."

Mayor Kowarzik said Council welcomed commitments of support announced during the election campaign and would be seeking a commitment for the project from the incoming government following the election.

To learn more about Cardinia Shire Council’s advocacy priorities, please visit: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/advocacy