The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has warned that the Allan Labor Government’s extended shutdown of the Shepparton and Seymour rail lines will have devastating consequences for commuters, businesses, and local roads.
With the rail lines closed for 45 days, one major quarry in Kilmore has confirmed it will be forced to replace approximately 58 cancelled trains with around 1700 truck movements, the equivalent of 40 extra trucks a day on already strained roads.
“Labor’s rail shutdowns are not just punishing commuters, they are hammering our roads and placing enormous strain on local communities,” Ms Cleeland said.
“When one business alone is forced to put 1700 trucks onto the road just to keep operating, you can only imagine the flow-on impact across the whole network.
“Every extra truck means more potholes, shorter road life, higher council repair bills, and greater safety risks for locals.
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“This is not just inconvenient, it is dangerous and costly.”
Ms Cleeland said the Allan Government’s drawn-out approach to rail works showed a lack of planning and accountability.
“What should take weeks is now being dragged out over months, with no transparency and no consideration for the chaos being caused,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Passengers are being left stranded with unreliable buses, businesses are losing money, regional tourism is being disrupted, and now our roads are being chewed up by trucks that should not need to be there.
“This is yet another example of Labor’s mismanagement. They cannot deliver projects on time, they cannot manage public transport, and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
