Victoria road conditions report shows rising deterioration

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) has released reports highlighting significant issues regarding state infrastructure and agency oversight. An annual report from VAGO noted a high volume of activity, including 529 audit opinions on financial statements and 109 opinions on performance statements. The office also completed 29 performance audits during the 2025-26 financial year, exceeding its original plan of 23.

A specific VAGO report on road conditions revealed that nearly half of Victoria’s state roads were in poor or very poor condition in 2024, an increase from 39 per cent in 2021. The deterioration is most prevalent in regional Victoria, affecting roads that carry significant traffic and freight. The findings indicate that renewal spending is failing to keep pace with road deterioration, with defects appearing faster than they can be repaired.

The report notes that one-third of these roads may only have five years of useful life remaining before they become unsafe for standard driving without speed or load restrictions. The Western Highway was identified as having high pothole report rates, second only to the Princes Freeway.