Council & Politics
23 September, 2025
St Arnaud and Charlton continue to support fight to save Maryborough VicRoads
Despite a petition already circulating communities, including St Arnaud and Chartlon, organisers have been told this would not be able to go further than local council.
THE battle to keep VicRoads open in Maryborough continues as a new petition looms.
Despite a paper already circulating communities, including St Arnaud and Chartlon, organisers have been told this would not be able to go further than local council.
"There will be a new ‘parliament approved’ petition made up this weekend which we will circle to gain the signatures again," campaign leaders David and Sophie Hendrickson of R U Safe Driving School said on Facebook.
"This is a little set back, but as a community, we will rally and get those 3000 signatures again."
The couple have also organised a public meeting for supporters to discuss where the campaign is at and next steps.
The movement began earlier this year when Central Goldfields Shire Council was informed of a new funding model for Maryborough's VicRoads office, which council runs on behalf of the state government.
Under the 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.
Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Grace La Vella wrote to the state government for support back in August 2025.
She 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,” Cr La Vella 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.”
The nearest locations for the community to access these services will be as far as Ballarat, Castlemaine, Ararat or Bendigo.
Local government, state government politicians and community groups across the region have been invited to highlight just how much the VicRoads service means to the wider regional area and to call upon the government to fully fund the service.
The public meeting will take place at Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) on September 29 from 7pm.
The event will also be livestreamed for those who can't make it in person.