MITCHELL-STRATHBOGIE EDITION
56 PAGES
AVENEL • BEVERIDGE • BROADFORD • CLONBINANE • DONNYBROOK • EUROA • HEATHCOTE JUNCTION • KILMORE • LONGWOOD NAGAMBIE • PUCKAPUNYAL • SEYMOUR • TALLAROOK • TRAWOOL • VIOLET TOWN • WALLAN • WANDONG
Wilson visit to Euroa WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2026
PLENTY OF POTHOLES
■ Northern Victoria MLC Wendy Lovell, and Yan Yean Liberal candidate Amanda Dow, are calling for rapid repair of dangerous potholes on Plenty Rd. Ms Lovell said that on the northbound lane of Plenty Rd, between Arthurs Creek Rd and Donnybrook Rd, there are five large craters along the short stretch of road. Ms Lovell’s constituent said that driving along the road has become like playing a risky game of dodgem cars, as drivers swerve around the potholes to avoid damage to their car, while also having to avoid oncoming traffic. Immediate action must be taken to make the road safe, and Ms Lovell called on the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to urgently repair the dangerous potholes on Plenty Rd between Arthurs Creek Rd and Donnybrook Rd. “After 12 years of Labor neglect, Victoria’s roads have deteriorated into a dangerous condition. The Minister for Roads and Road Safety must urgently repair the dangerous potholes on Plenty Rd between Arthurs Creek Rd and Donnybrook Rd,” Ms Lovell told the Legislative Council.
● Wendy Lovell MLC
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■ Euroa MLA Annabelle Cleeland has spoken in State Parliement about a visit by Opposition Leader Jess Wilson to the local electorate. “After months of Labor infighting Victorians have watched one Premier rolled and another installed, but changing the person at the top means nothing if the same government continues to ignore regional Victorians,” Ms Cleeland told the Legislative Assembly. “During the winter break I welcomed Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson and Leader of the Nationals Danny O’Brien to the region for our Fresh Start tour. “We visited Kestrel Aviation, Creightons Creek CFA, the Longwood Avenel footy club and the White Hart pub, and everywhere we went people raised the same concerns: crumbling roads, cost of living, unreliable power and community safety. “Nowhere was that clearer than Strathbogie, where I walked through the January bushfire response with CFA group officer David Hamilton. “During one of the state’s most dangerous fire periods the town lost power, phone reception and CFA radio at once. “It literally ran out of water when the Longwood bushfire was just two kilometres away from the township. Volunteers operate from a CFA shed that has poor power, no water and no toilet. It is not OH&S-compliant and borrows Di’s Garage next door to house a vehicle. “The bushfire inquiry already told Labor what it needs to change to properly fund our CFA, but it continues to ignore it. “Those conversations continued during Australian Hotels Association Victoria Mates Day visits at Toolleen pub, Seven Creeks and the Northo. “Our country pubs are being crippled by the 70 new or increased taxes that Labor has introduced, so if you can, get out and support our pubs, buy a meal and have a great day with your mate, because they are being crippled by the Labor Government,” Ms Cleeland said.
Potholes galore: MP ■ Northern Victoria MLC Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell has spoken in the Uopper House about the dilemma of potholes on local roads. “Every pothole that forces a driver to swerve, every broken road edge that catches a tyre and every damaged safety barrier left unrepaired increases the risk that something will go wrong. “Between January 2023 and December 2024 Victorian motorists lodged 1709 compensation claims for vehicle damage caused on state -managed roads, yet only 23 of those claims resulted in settlement offers, a success rate of just 1.3 per cent. “Even more concerningly, 73 per cent of those claims involved damaged road surfaces and pavement defects. “These figures demonstrate that poor road conditions are not isolated incidents; they are affecting thousands of Victorian motorists. “Truck drivers and freight operators also pay the price. Victoria’s freight industry depends heavily on our regional highways. “Every damaged road surface increases vehicle maintenance costs, tyre wear, suspension damage and fuel compensation. Delivery delays add further costs, and ultimately those costs are passed on to Victorian consumers. “Regional communities feel these impacts more than most. Unlike metropolitan Melbourne, people living in regional Victoria often have no practical alternative to driving. They travel long distances for work, school, medical appointments and everyday services. When roads deteriorate, families pay more, businesses pay more and communities become less connected,” Ms Tyrrell said.