O’Brien-Mulder – Budget delivers an extra $130 million to fix Victorian roads

· Victorian Coalition Government delivers an extra $130 million to repair and restore Victorian roads
· More than half a billion dollars to be invested in road management in 2014-15
· Coalition Government continues to fix more roads, more often

Commuters, businesses and visitors will enjoy better, safer journeys on Victorian roads, Treasurer Michael O’Brien announced today.

Mr O’Brien said the upcoming State Budget will include an extra $130 million over four years for road maintenance and restoration works above base funding levels.

“This extra funding will go into improving roads right across Melbourne and in every region of Victoria,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The Coalition Government is building a better Victoria by not only delivering new job-creating infrastructure projects, but upgrading and maintaining our existing assets, including our extensive road network.

“This is another example of how the Coalition Government is investing in better, safer roads for Victorians,” Mr O’Brien said.

The $130 million funding boost includes $50 million for capital restoration works and an extra $80 million for road maintenance and resealing.

Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said the extra funding will allow VicRoads to reseal and restore more roads across the state.

“This extra funding allows us to fix more roads, more often,” Mr Mulder said.

“Victoria’s roads will be better maintained and improved as a result of this funding boost.”

Mr O’Brien said the Coalition Government is reversing Labor’s neglect of Victorian roads.

“This funding boost takes next year’s road management budget to more than half a billion dollars, well above funding levels for roads under the former Labor Government,” Mr O’Brien said.

“When Labor left office, their last road management budget was $384 million. Today’s announcement will see Victoria’s road management budget rise to more than $500 million in 2014-15, including road restoration funding.”

The Coalition Government is committed to maintaining the safety and operation of the state’s arterial road network, in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.