The Victorian Farmers Federation pre-budget submission highlighted the improvement of regional roads as one of its biggest priorities.

Federation president Emma Germano said she was disappointed with the level of investment in freight routes and regional road maintenance.

"Regional communities and farmers will be disappointed that just weeks after calls for the lowering of speed limits on regional roads, the Government has failed to adequately invest in the maintenance and upgrades required to make rural and regional roads safe," she said.

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The Service Delivery paper, presented by state treasure Tim Pallas as part of the State Budget announcement claims the government seek to treat 11.8 million square metres of road area in the 2021-22 financial year.

This is lower than the expected outcome for the 2020-21 financial year (13.1 million square metres) but higher than the 2020-21 target (9.3 million square metres).

"The 2020-21 expected outcome is higher than the 2020-21 target due to additional roads identified for treatment," explains the paper.

"The higher 2021-22 target reflects the funding for road maintenance in the financial year."

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Minister for Regional Development and Labor Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas said the government's recent road maintenance blitz that had helped the state government exceed its 2020-21 target was evidence of Labor's commitment to improving regional roads.

"Regional roads are the backbone of our economy and the gateway to the many wonderful country towns across our state - safer and more reliable roads are what country Victorians deserve," she said.

The State Budget includes continued funding for various improvements on the Western Highway, including the planning and preconstruction of the Ararat and Beaufort bypasses.

The estimated expenditure on these two projects for the 2021-22 financial year is just under $7 million combined.

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However, Liberal Member for Ripon Louise Staley said the State Budget does not sufficiently invest in the Western Highway and regional and rural roads more broadly.

"Labor's Budget has, yet again, failed to deliver any additional maintenance funding for rural and regional roads," she said.

"Country motorists are being forced to drive on crumbling roads instead of high quality, safe roads.

"In Ripon, the Western Highway is an absolute death trap. Over the past 12 months, we have seen fatalities and serious car accidents.

"If Labor looked beyond the tram tracks, they would see the deterioration of our country roads and maybe then they might do something to fix them."

Horsham Rural City Council has meanwhile announced its draft 2021-22 budget will include more investment in rural roads than ever before, proposing an allocation of $7.3 million on rural roads and bridges.

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