Benalla Rural City Council is calling on the Victorian Government to fix dangerous potholes and deteriorating conditions on key state-managed roads in the Benalla municipality, including the Midland Highway and Bridge Street in the Benalla CBD.
A newly released Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report found that the condition of Victoria’s state road network continues to deteriorate, with almost half of state-managed roads rated poor or very poor. Council says these findings reflect the concerns regularly raised by Benalla residents about the condition of key state-managed roads in the municipality which are rated tenth worst in the state.
“The VAGO report backs what our community has been telling us. Benalla’s state-managed roads are among the worst in Victoria,” Mayor Cr Bernie Hearn said. “Residents consistently raise concerns about the condition of state-managed roads in Benalla, particularly the Hume Freeway, Midland Highway, Bridge Street, Benalla-Tocumwal and Benalla-Yarrawonga Road and we want to see those concerns addressed.”
“Council wants to see immediate action and calls on the State Government to ensure regional communities beyond the 10 Official Regional Victorian Cities are not overlooked in road maintenance and investment decisions.”
Midland Highway, Benalla-Tocumwal and Benalla-Yarrawonga Roads and Bridge Street are state-managed roads and the responsibility of the Department of Transport and Planning.
Council believes the VAGO report provides further evidence of the need for sustained investment in Victoria’s regional road network, including state-managed roads within the Benalla municipality.
Council also supports the broader push from Regional Cities Victoria for a $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years and a $1 billion Regional Growth Fund and urges all parties contesting the November State Election to commit to this funding.
The VAGO report makes the case clearly: Benalla’s roads need urgent state investment, and Council is calling on the Victorian Government to act now. Council also supports the broader push from Regional Cities Victoria for a $2 billion Regional Roads Package over four years and a $1 billion Regional Growth Fund and urges all parties contesting the November State Election to commit to this funding.
The VAGO report findings add significant weight to a growing concern, including a recent letter from Regional Cities Victoria to Premier Ben Carroll on 6 September 2026 identifying priority roads across regional Victoria for urgent repair and investment.
Council says smaller regional communities like Benalla deserve the same attention as the state’s largest regional cities when it comes to road safety and maintenance.
With the November State Election approaching, Council is urging all parties to recognise that safe, well-maintained roads matter just as much in Benalla as they do in Victoria’s biggest regional centres.