Grain and pulse growers in north-west Victoria say they are alarmed at what they describe are restrictive practices holding back the upgrade of a critical regional road.
The state government has announced it will spend $10 million on upgrading the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road, but growers remain sceptical.
In 2019, VicRoads dropped the speed limit from 100 kilometres an hour to 80k/h because of the condition of the road; that's since been reinstated to 100k/h.
"They built the shoulders up with dirt and sprayed a bit of blacktop on a couple of corners," Manangatang grain grower Brian Barry said.
Mr Barry said the state government was spending $1.5 million this year on the road, and the balance of $10m next year.
But he said he was concerned he'd been told 15 per cent of the total would go on cultural heritage surveys.
"If it was a new road, I could understand that," he said.
"They are not going to take any bends out; they are going to widen it a little bit, paint a white line up it and replace some bitumen."
Manangatang grain grower Peter Thompson said the road was built in 1967.
"They have probably done a few small repair jobs in spots, but nothing really in its entire lifetime," Mr Thompson said.
"The equipment is getting bigger and faster and we just need the appropriate maintenance money spent on these roads."
Roads were rough and narrow, with numerous bumps and dips.
"You are passing trucks and there is a five to 15-centimetre drop off the bitumen," he said.
He proposed spending of the fuel tax in the area where it was generated.
Another Manangatang grain grower Chris Plant said many of the region's roads were in poor condition.
"After harvest, there are a lot of roads that are showing a lot of wear and tear," Ms Plant said.
"With the Murray Basin Rail Project stalled, farmers in this area are concerned that extra trucks will be pushed onto our already neglected, and poorly maintained road network, and damage the roads even further."
She said local roads seemed to be getting narrower due to native vegetation laws.
"Our larger machinery is really struggling to get down the narrow roads without hitting trees," she said.
"Saplings start growing along the shoulders of roads and get larger; they keep encroaching on the road space, so the width of the road just keeps getting narrower."
Tree canopies were also an issue when trying to move larger machinery, like seeding equipment.
"It seems our safety is often compromised and comes second to native vegetation," she said.
A government spokesman said $1.5 million would be spent this financial year to undertake survey, design, and to complete some construction works on the road.
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
