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The Coalition pledges to eliminate one million potholes with new roads fund

By Ashley Darling

Jul 13, 2026

The condition of regional roads is attracting more attention in the lead-up to the Victorian election. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The Coalition has announced a $5 billion investment in Victorian roads if elected in November.

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The funding would be delivered over four years and would aim to fix one million potholes and increase ongoing maintenance activities, including grass slashing, graffiti removal and drain clearance.

The commitment is part of the Coalition’s ‘fair share guarantee’, which promises investment in regional Victoria in proportion with population.

A stand-alone division would be established within the Department of Transport and Planning to rebuild technical and engineering expertise.

The announcement was made during Liberal leader Jess Wilson’s Fresh Start Tour across all electorates in Victoria, where she and Nationals leader Danny O’Brien have seen the extent of deteriorating regional roads.

The $5 billion package over four years would be an increase from current spending by $250 million per year and would cover all roads in Victoria, including Melbourne.

Currently, the state government spends $1 billion on roads per year.

In April, Regional Cities Victoria began campaigning for an additional $500 million per year to be dedicated to regional roads.

RCV chair Ben Blain said the announcement indicated that the condition of regional roads had become a defining issue for the state election.

“Today’s commitment is a significant acknowledgement of the case regional communities have been making for years,” Cr Blain said.

“We look forward to hearing how all parties intend to restore Victoria’s roads and deliver the long-term investment regional communities deserve.”

City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said he was pleased to see the announcement but hoped to see more increases to regional funding, including improvements to healthcare and public transport.

“I want to see our community have access to what they have a right to,” he said.

“They have a right to drive on safe roads.

“The Goulburn Valley Hwy in particular is shocking.”

Cr Sali has seen the deteriorating conditions of the roads himself during trips to Melbourne, and identified the section between Toolamba and Nagambie as particularly hazardous.

Greater Shepparton City Council requested to meet Ms Wilson and Mr O’Brien on their tour to convey community priorities, but was denied the opportunity.

Cr Sali said the lack of a meeting was “disappointing”.