A Fair Go for Maryborough's VicRoads Service
Council is currently in negotiations with the State Government regarding the future of the VicRoads office in Maryborough — a service our community relies on, and one we are fighting to keep.
What began as a fully funded state service now appears to be another cost-shifting exercise, leaving small rural councils like ours to pick up the pieces. Frankly, this current proposal is not sustainable; put simply we can't afford it.
Let's be clear — this is not about politics, it's about fairness. In 2022, the former Treasurer sold off half of VicRoads to multinational conglomerates worth billions. The remainder stayed in public hands. And yet, now, we're being asked to stretch our limited local resources to cover essential state-run services.
We cannot take more money from ratepayers without raising the rate cap — something we are not prepared to do. Our community simply cannot afford it.
Maryborough residents — especially our farmers and young people — need access to local licensing services. In a low socio-economic area like ours, where public transport is scarce and private vehicle access is not a given, travelling to other VicRoads locations is not just inconvenient — it's often impossible.
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for a fair go. It's time the State Government recognised that rural communities deserve the same access to essential services as those in metropolitan areas.
We urge the State to come to the table in good faith and deliver a solution that works for Maryborough and the Central Goldfields community.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Councillor Grace La Vella
