No recovery

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
The Roads to Recovery program has helped the Yarra Ranges Council construct more than 60 roads since it began, with the funding adding up to $23 million over the decade.
This year alone the program has helped to create more than 13 kilometres of road across the shire, with annual funding support of approximately $1.85 million.
Councillors last week said if the funding was to discontinue, there would be a 50 per cent reduction in new local road construction.
They are calling on the Federal Government to continue the program on a permanent basis and increase the annual funding agreement. At last Tuesday’s council meeting, Councillor Graham Warren said roads created the most headaches in rural areas.
“We have 800-plus kilometres of unmade, unsealed roads, and it’s always an incredible challenge to meet the demands of residents,” he said.
Yarra Ranges Council engineering director Mark Varmalis said the Roads to Recovery funding had made a huge difference over the past 11 years.
“As an interface council many residents are living on roads they would like to see at a higher standard, especially in the Dandenongs and township areas,” Mr Varmalis said.
“Our thinking has evolved since it first started off, initially focusing on larger projects such as Thomas Avenue in Warburton, Montrose Road and the Gruyere group.
“We then recognised the value of leveraging money with residents.”
He said the council utilised special charge schemes, which are paid for by residents, and subsidised through local and state government funding, to double the number of roads made during the second funding round.
But as councillor Tim Heenan said at the meeting, “it’s fair to say we would be desperate without that Federal money.”
Samantha Wills, spokesperson for Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, said the Gillard Government strongly supported the Roads to Recovery program as a way of assisting local councils with the cost of maintaining and upgrading their local roads.