The Highways Department should be reinstated by the State Government to maintain South East roads according to local MP Troy Bell.
The Independent Member for Mount Gambier used strong language in the House of Assembly last week to call on the State Government to “scrap” its contract it with a private firm.
“The roads in the South East have never been in a worse condition,” claimed Mr Bell.
“People may try to direct that towards a wet winter; well, this has been one of the driest times on record.
“You just have to ask any farmer in our local area, and they would confirm that.
“In the past, we have had wet winters, but I have never seen our roads deteriorate to the same level and nor have I received as many complaints in my office about that.
“We need to tear up the contract and start again, return to a more localised approach and reinstate the State Government’s Highways Department and road maintenance depot in Mount Gambier,” Mr Bell said.
“This shift would empower local companies leveraging their local knowledge to benefit our community.”
Mr Bell pointed out that road maintenance in the Limestone Coast was previously managed by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport/Highways Department with depots located in both Mount Gambier and Naracoorte.
“Essential maintenance work was also undertaken by local contractors, some of whom had worked for the State Government for over 30 years,” he said.
“Over those 30 years, the facilities manager and contractors developed strong working relationships and essential site knowledge.
“They knew where the stormwater ran, where the soil ran and what locations had received upgrades.
“This knowledge saves time, inconvenience and money as well as employing local businesses.
“However, in 2019, the then Liberal government made a decision to privatise the maintenance of the entirety of the state’s road network.
“This was touted as a cost-saving measure, with the state’s network being divided into four zones, with seven-year contracts on offer.
“Recent revelations indicate a significant mismatch between the contracted amounts and the estimated cost of necessary repairs.”
