Council
25 June, 2026
Parliamentary plea for road maintenance
MEMBER for South West Coast Roma Britnell questioned if it would take tragedy before south west roads get attention during last week’s sitting of Parliament.
Ms Britnell raised her concerns through a Member’s Statement in Parliament last Thursday.
She said South-West Coast residents are “furious” as the conditions of roads has left motorists feeling unsafe while the state government makes excuses.
“The condition of our roads has deteriorated to the point where they are no longer safe to drive on at night or in heavy rain,” Ms Britnell said.
“For years I have been warning the Allan Labor government that road maintenance was grossly inadequate.
“For years the response has been, ‘there’s no problem.’
“Now we are ropeable, and now we are witnessing exactly what we said would happen.”
Ms Britnell said the recent rainfall had not been the cause of the damage, but a tipping point for the already deteriorated roads to further crumble to a point in which motorists were placed in a dangerous position.
“Rain is not the cause of this crisis; rain falls every winter – what has changed is the road conditions have gone too far,” she said.
“The Allan Labor Government is delusional.
“Police tell us to drive to conditions, but heavy rain and darkness are simply too dangerous and too deadly now.”
Ms Britnell recounted a harrowing experience a young driver had while travelling through Panmure just the night prior, an experience which multiple other drivers shared.
“A young woman struck a pothole on the Princes Highway at Panmure in darkness and pouring rain with a semitrailer behind her,” she said.
“The road damaged her car, and she struggled to maintain control – what a terrifying ordeal.
“With just one year of driving experience, it is a miracle she was not killed.
“She waited for three hours on the roadside in the dark and rain for assistance and a tow truck.”
Ms Britnell questioned at what point the state government would step up and make a significant push to repair the region’s roads.
“At what point does the responsibility shift to the government?” she said.
“Does it take a tragedy to get attention?”
Ms Britnell said it was now too late for real fixes to the roads, but called on the government to prepare ahead so meaningful change could occur when Spring arrives.
“It is too late for proper fixes,” she said.
“Winter is here, and the opportunity for meaningful maintenance has been missed.
“I am sick and tired of saying this: please fix the roads properly come spring.”
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