Question regarding underreporting of road rehabilitation needs identified in a 2016 Auditor General report. The answer outlines steps taken since 2017 to improve assessment and data collection of pavement rehabilitation needs.

AnsweredQoN 827Legislative Council
Asked
23 October 2025
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the 2016 Auditor General report 'Maintaining the State Road Network - Follow-on Audit', and the statement on page 7 which says, "Main Roads regional offices do not comprehensively assess and report on the level of rehabilitation, as this need does not typically attract funding. Main Roads does not know the extent to which rehabilitation is underreported but estimates the gap between assessed need and actual need at approximately $100 million", and I ask: (a) is the situation outlined here in terms of underreported rehabilitation still an accurate reflection of the current circumstances; (b) what steps have been taken to address the concern about the level of underreporting flagged; and (c) is it Main Roads' assessment that rehabilitation requirements are still underreported, and if so, what is the estimate as of 30 July 2025 of the gap between assessed need and actual need?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
2 December 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport
Response time
7 days
(a)-(c)  In 2017, Main Roads conducted a statewide visual assessment to identify pavement rehabilitation needs.
Since 2018, pavement strength data has been collected every two years to identify structural deficiencies.
Combining visual assessments with the data collection provides a comprehensive view of rehabilitation needs.
Regional teams regularly review sites and update recommendations to ensure accuracy and effective prioritisation.

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