A RENEWED push for millions more in government money for the Great Ocean Road comes with a warning the iconic route could face temporary closures if its condition deteriorated further.
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The federal government has been called on to inject at least $5 million a year and recognise it as a route of national importance, while the state is urged to double its $2.5m annual contribution.
But Corangamite MP Darren Cheeseman and federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said the campaign by Geelong Region Alliance, G21, was a misguided wish-list. They said it was a state road, not a major freight route or a national highway.
“If the Victorian government put back the $50m it took out of VicRoads’ maintenance budget there would be enough to solve the problem,” Mr Cheeseman said.
G21 chief executive Elaine Carbines said the federal government needed to recognise the Great Ocean Road not as a state road but for its major contribution to national tourism.
“This is the third-most visited area in Australia behind Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef, attracting seven million visitors annually, but it does not get federal funding,” she said.
“It underpins more than $2bn in contribution to our region and the nation.
“If it is not maintained properly it could result in closure for vital maintenance.”
Shipwreck Coast Marketing chief executive Carole Reid echoed concerns about possible road closures, referring to a landslip two years ago that caused traffic diversions and economic losses.
“It’s imperative it be funded adequately for proper maintenance and upgrades rather than waiting for it to deteriorate further,” she said.
“We have to provide the infrastructure to make sure the journey is safe, otherwise the reputation will suffer.”
Great South Coast Group has supported the push, with chairman Chris O’Connor, of Corangamite Shire, agreeing it should be recognised as a road of national importance because of its tourism value.
While Ms Carbines acknowledged a commitment by Victorian Roads Minister Terry Mulder to lobby Canberra for more funding, she challenged him to release a recent VicRoads management strategy report on the Great Ocean Road.
“Canberra seems to need evidence as to why it should contribute maintenance funds to the road, so let’s give them evidence,” she said.
A February 2012 report funded by both governments said a minimum of $10m a year for at least five years was needed to bring the road up to standard.
The G21 campaign has an online petition already signed by 1357 people, plus hardcopy petitions, bumper stickers, social media and mobile billboards.
