Editor’s Column

Looking beyond new projects…

Addressing Australia’s massive road maintenance challenge

Dear Readers,

While I feel confident that the majority of you, like me, are watching with a balanced blend of excitement, expectation and scepticism about the myriad funding promises that are being wheeled out in the lead up to the federal election (pun intended), I must admit to being a little disappointed – although, perhaps not necessarily surprised – that despite the appalling condition of many of the nation’s local roads and smaller rural highways, the focus of the big infrastructure spending promises seems to be exclusively on new major transport projects.

At this point, I will – as usual - take the opportunity to clearly state that as with each of my editorials, the commentary in this editorial is no way intended to be construed as a partisan piece. It isn’t aimed at any political party or intended to favour any political party. Its only intended purpose is to highlight what I see as a major issue in our road infrastructure planning and spending.

That said, while I am generally the first to argue our urgent need for additional public transport (with adequate parking facilities), new motorways and improved arterial connections - and as such, welcome any announcements of funding for such projects - I believe there are a couple of critical points being overlooked in the frenzy of spending announcements, viz: • Spending on transport infrastructure does not and cannot stop with initial construction; • New major road and transport projects, while always welcome (and let’s be honest, not a bad sell point for any government) are not the only infrastructure projects we need; • EVERYTHING requires some form of maintenance eventually; and • Perhaps most importantly given the expected changes in post-COVID transport habits (e.g. increased personal car use, reduced public transport capacities, etc.); there is no point having a selection of major projects that feed out into a road network which is so underfunded and in such a poor state of repair that it is unable to cope with the vehicle loadings (both in terms of numbers and mass) it is expected to cater for. Now, before anyone decides to fire off a vitriolic email highlighting the many billions of dollars being spent annually by State, Territory and Local Governments across the nation on road and bridge maintenance, I am well aware of the funds being allocated and spent on road and bridge maintenance and repair.

I do, however, have these questions in response… 1. Have you seen the condition of much of Australia’s rural and regional road network? 2. Have you driven to or from many of the sprawling outer developing suburbs in our major cities? As I noted previously, any spending on transport infrastructure is, in my humble opinion, worthwhile spending, however, it is clear from the condition of much of the road network, that we are clearly not spending enough.

Our road and bridge network is, quite literally, falling apart under the strain. Indeed, we’re even in a situation where most, if not all of our major capitals still have unmade roads forming part of their road network. For added affect, I’ll just repeat that… UNMADE ROADS IN MAJOR CAPITAL CITIES… in 2022!!

And it’s not about playing the ‘blame game’ either.

It serves no purpose to lay the blame for all of the shortcomings of our road and bridge network at the feet of any level of Government… it’s an extremely long-term cumulative problem and attempting to lay blame doesn’t fix the problems.

Nor does spending the majority of road infrastructure budgets on feasibility studies!

What is needed is a genuine cooperation between all levels of government; a genuine willingness to get on and fix the issues; and, perhaps most importantly, genuine budgetary commitments that provide sufficient funding for the maintenance and repairs the network so desperately needs.

Anthony T Schmidt

Managing Editor