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Victoria regional roads face scrutiny amid rising repair costs and safety concerns
The condition of regional roads in Victoria has become a major concern following the RACV 2026 My Country Road survey. The survey found that 71 per cent of respondents identified potholes and rough surfaces as their primary issue, a significant increase from 64 per cent in 2024. Additionally, 73 per cent of participants cited road resurfacing as the highest priority for improvement.
Specific sections of the Western Highway, including stretches between Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell, and Horsham, were identified as having significant safety concerns. RACV reported that tyre-related breakdown callouts reached 112,000 in the past year, reflecting these deteriorating conditions.
Critics and industry experts have accused the state government of mismanaging the regional road network by scaling back preventive maintenance and outsourcing repairs to multinational companies. While Premier Ben Carroll has pledged to bring road repairs back in-house, reports indicate that repair costs have risen 400 per cent over the last five years, with maintenance spending exceeding $1 billion in 2026-27.
Entities
Australian Automobile Association · Ben Carroll · RACV · Transport Department · Victoria
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Premier Ben Carroll has pledged to bring road repairs back in-house. www.thecourier.com.au · www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The RACV 2026 My Country Road survey identified potholes and rough surfaces as the top issue for 71 per cent of respondents. www.mailtimes.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] The cost of road repairs in Victoria has risen 400 per cent over the past five years. www.thecourier.com.au · www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 73 per cent of survey respondents named road resurfacing as the highest-priority improvement. www.mailtimes.com.au
- [● 2 SOURCES] Road maintenance spending surpassed $1 billion in 2026-27. www.thecourier.com.au · www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Tyre-related breakdown callouts rose to 112,000 in the last 12 months. www.mailtimes.com.au