Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Grace La Vella is seeking the Victorian Government's support to keep a fully funded comprehensive VicRoads service in Maryborough.
The Council has operated the VicRoads office in Maryborough on the Government's behalf for many years.
Until 1 July, VicRoads paid staff wages and on-costs, plus a contribution towards rent and overheads.
Under a new funding model which was to take effect on 1 July, 2025, VicRoads said they would only pay the Council a fee for each transaction. This fee is much less than the actual cost to Council.
Mayor La Vella said the new model would cost ratepayers a significant amount if it goes ahead.
"As a small rural Council we can't afford to subsidise a VicRoads responsibility," she said.
"We don't want to see services reduced, but we can't absorb cost shifting.
"It's critical for our local community that the Government retain the full range of VicRoads services in Maryborough, which they have fully funded for many years."
Mayor La Vella said if VicRoads doesn't want to fully fund the Council to provide VicRoads services on its behalf, it should establish an office of its own in Maryborough and retain all of the current services.
Council is currently reviewing the service to determine all available options and the cost implications. No decision will be made until the review is complete.
At the Council meeting on Wednesday, 27 August, Council will receive a community petition and confirm its advocacy to date.
BACKGROUND
The VicRoads service in Maryborough was historically regarded as a sub-office of the VicRoads Bendigo office.
Maryborough is the only office of its type in the state, representing a partnership between the Council and VicRoads to deliver comprehensive VicRoads services through the Council office with Council staff who are 100 per cent employed on VicRoads business.
VicRoads downgraded the status of the office last year from a Rural Customer Service Centre to an agency.
None of the other VicRoads agencies provide driver-licence testing or full vehicle inspections.
The Maryborough office processes more than 2000 transactions per month, compared with 170 per month at a neighbouring Council's agency.
Changing to the fee-for-transaction model will cost the Council a significant amount in staff wages, rent and overheads.
