Road transport operators with routes affected by the bush fires in Victoria may be heartened to hear that $82 million has been allocated by the Federal and State Governments for road repairs in the state.
The ferocity of the fires has had a major impact on roads in the bushfire regions, not only to road surfaces, but also to road safety infrastructure including barriers, signage and vegetation.
The $82 million in funding, announced on January 15, includes $44 million for emergency works jointly funded by the Federal and State governments under joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and a further $37 million by the Victorian government.
Victorian Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery Vicki Ward says the funding is an important step in the recovery process for the affected regions.
“Getting on with the job of repairing critical transport infrastructure is an important part of the vital first-steps in ensuring bushfire-affected communities can rebuild and recover,” Ward says.
“We will always stand with Victorian communities on their journey to recovery.”
In a media statement announcing the funding the Victorian government says “crews will be out repairing wire rope and guard rails, cleaning up trees and debris, making sure signage remains intact and undertaking road repairs, supporting local economies and businesses, which rely on safe and accessible roads.
“We are undertaking works along critical routes including Murchison-Violet Town Road to ensure this critical detour route for the Hume Highway remains open for local communities.”
It says the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning is preparing for significantly more road pavement damage and repairs on roads such as the Murray Valley Highway, Benalla-Tocumwal Road and Shelley-Walwa Road.
Information about recovery support is available now on the Emergency Recovery Victoria website: vic.gov.au/january-2026-victorian-bushfires
An appeal has been set up to support affected communities with donations being accepted by Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation’s January 2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal: vic.gov.au/2026-Victorian-Bushfire-Appeal
Anyone keen to donate goods or volunteer their time, is encouraged to reach out to appropriate charities like GIVIT.