❓ Hon Steve Martin questions the Minister for Transport regarding the maintenance and age of WA's road network, referencing previous Auditor General reports. The Minister provides data on the percentage of roads past their design life, total network length, and asset replacement cost, while highlighting ongoing investment in road safety.
AnsweredQoN 808Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the maintenance of the state road network managed by Main Roads, and the 2009 and 2016 Auditor General's reports which included a range of figures to measure the state of and progress of roads maintenance in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) what percentage of the state road network is past its design life, defined in the Auditor General report and Main Roads guidelines as over 40 years old, as of 30 June 2025; (b) in relation to (a), what was the same percentage figure, as at 30 June, for each of the following years: (i) 2024; (ii) 2023; (iii) 2022; (iv) 2021; (v) 2020; (vi) 2019; (vii) 2018; and (viii) 2017; (c) for each of the years in (a) and (b), as at 30 June, how many kilometres in total was the length of the state road network; (d) for each of the years in (a) and (b), as at 30 June, what was the estimated total asset value of the state road network; and (e) in relation to the answer in (d), can the Minister confirm that this includes: (i) all state network roads; (ii) all state network bridges; and (iii) any other major component of the physical state road network (please specify)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport
Response time
7 days
It should be noted that design life is not the only determinant of whether a road is fit-for-purpose. State roads are maintained regularly in accordance with need. Over $1 billion has been invested by State and Federal Governments in the Regional Road Safety Program, which has seen over 10,000km of the State road network upgraded.
(a)-(d) For sealed and unsealed pavement
Financial Year
Percentage over 40 years (%)
Total Network Length (nearest 000 km)
Asset Replacement Cost ($ billion)
2017
45
19
54
2018
45
19
55
2019
46
19
56
2020
47
19
58
2021
48
20
62
2022
49
20
69
2023
50
20
78
2024
51
20
82
2025
52
20
90
(e) The replacement costs provided in (d) includes roads; Principal Shared Paths; Road Train Assembly Areas; and Structures.
(a)-(d) For sealed and unsealed pavement
Financial Year
Percentage over 40 years (%)
Total Network Length (nearest 000 km)
Asset Replacement Cost ($ billion)
2017
45
19
54
2018
45
19
55
2019
46
19
56
2020
47
19
58
2021
48
20
62
2022
49
20
69
2023
50
20
78
2024
51
20
82
2025
52
20
90
(e) The replacement costs provided in (d) includes roads; Principal Shared Paths; Road Train Assembly Areas; and Structures.
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