Dr Napthine claimed $2.6 million allocated to the upgrade work had evaporated with the change of government late last year, replaced by temporary measures which will do little to improve safety.

The thoroughfare, linking the Henty Highway north of Heywood at Myamyn to the Port Fairy-Hamilton Road a few kilometres north of Macarthur, was first sealed six decades ago and landholders have previously claimed it has received little attention since. Dr Napthine pledged as premier last year to pump $2.6 million into improvement works along the western section of the Myamyn-Macarthur Road if re-elected.

“It is bitterly disappointing that the Labor government have refused to use that $2.6 million for what it was originally allocated for — fixing the Myamyn-Macarthur Road,” the South West Coast MP said. 

“The money was budgeted for, it was set to be spent in the 2014-15 financial year and yet this city-centric government has decided this project isn’t important enough.

“The Myamyn-Macarthur Road is very potholed. There are several very dangerous road shoulders and its condition is set to get worse with more timber trucks, cattle trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles using the road.”

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the state government would work to provide temporary relief 

“If the Member for South West Coast cared about the Myamyn-Macarthur Road, he would have fixed it when he was premier,” Mr Donnellan said.

“The Andrews Labor government is taking action now to improve the safety of Myamyn-Macarthur Road by making repairs, reducing the speed limit, installing safety signage.” 

Dr Napthine criticised the state government’s response as “a patch up job which would cost a fraction of the price” to resurface the road as outlined under his administration.

More than 160 residents signed a petition last year calling for the road, which spans both the Glenelg and Moyne shires, to be upgraded.