HORSHAM Rural City Council Mayor Pam Clarke has called for VicRoads to provide more funding so roads can be rebuilt to a better standard than before this year’s floods.
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Cr Clarke said it did not make sense to keep repairing roads to the same standard then have them damaged or destroyed every few years.
“There is a saying that if you continue to do the same thing, don’t be surprised when you end up with the same outcome, she said.
“That’’s one of the problems we have had: we don’t get the money to reinstate these roads and floodways to the standard that we don’t have to repair them at the next flood.
“We as a council need to try somehow to get enough money.”
The issue came up in Monday’s council meeting during a debate on accepting a report into the September flooding along the Wimmera River.
Cr David Grimble was first to raise the issue for additional funding.
“Is there an opportunity, as the report highlights, to repair those damaged assets to a standard that makes them more resilient?” he said.
Technical services director John Martin said Horsham council would have most of its costs funded through a national disaster relief fund.
“In regards to more resilient standards, It’s something we are keen to pursue,” he said.
“It probably won’t be in the current round of road repairs but we are working closely with VicRoads on a more appropriate approach for the future.”
Mr Martin said there had been strong support from VicRoads and he hoped to have an update for councillors in the next few months.
“There are encouraging signs but not in the short term where we need to do our first round of repairs,” he said.