Greater Shepparton City Council has welcomed the release of RACV’s 2026 My Country Road report, saying the findings reinforce what regional councils have been advocating for years: Victoria’s regional road network requires significant and sustained investment.
The report found that road surfaces and potholes remain the biggest concern for regional road users, with an overwhelming majority calling for resurfacing as the priority solution.
The RACV report, based on feedback from 6,143 road users and more than 10,000 requests for improvements, found 71 per cent of respondents identified road surfaces and potholes as their biggest concern, while 73 per cent nominated road resurfacing as the highest priority improvement. These findings align closely with concerns consistently raised by regional councils and communities across Victoria.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Councillor Geoff Akers, said the report provided further independent evidence supporting Council’s advocacy for increased investment in regional roads.
“The RACV report confirms what our residents, businesses and visitors experience every day. The condition of regional roads continues to be one of the biggest issues facing communities across Victoria,” he said.
“Importantly, this is not just councils raising concerns. Thousands of road users, the RACV and the Victorian Auditor-General have all highlighted the deteriorating condition of the network and the need for urgent action.”
The report follows findings from the Victorian Auditor-General that almost half of Victoria’s state-managed roads were in poor or very poor condition in 2024 and adds to growing evidence that long-term investment is needed to restore the regional road network.
Cr Akers said Council welcomed the Victorian Government’s recent commitment of an additional $352 million for road maintenance but noted that addressing the scale of the challenge would require an ongoing funding commitment.
“We welcome additional funding for road maintenance, and we want to see those dollars translated into works on the ground as quickly as possible,” he said.
“However, regional communities like ours are telling us they want lasting solutions. Temporary repairs and reduced speed limits are not enough. Roads need proper resurfacing and reconstruction to ensure they remain safe and reliable for all users.
“For Greater Shepparton, reliable roads are critical to supporting our agriculture sector, freight movements, local businesses and the daily travel need of our residents.”
“The RACV report is another clear reminder that regional roads matter. They connect our communities, support freight movement, underpin economic growth and are essential for road safety,” Cr Akers said.
“We will continue advocating strongly on behalf of our community for the investment needed to build and maintain a road network that regional Victorians deserve.”
Greater Shepparton City Council supports the call from Cr Ben Blain and Regional Cities Victoria for an additional $2 billion investment in regional roads over the next four years, recognising that the current challenges have developed over many years and will require a sustained approach to resolve.
