Council & Business
15 August, 2025
Council fears cut to local VicRoads services amid recent funding changes
The availability of VicRoads services in Maryborough is facing an uncertain future following changes to funding allocated to the Central Goldfields Shire Council.
Central Goldfields Shire CEO Peter Harriott said the shire was contacted by VicRoads earlier this year regarding changes to their funding model.
“VicRoads wrote to council in April to implement a new funding model for the agency service provided at our office on Nolan Street, to take effect from July 1, 2025,” he said.
“It significantly reduces the revenue that council receives for delivering the VicRoads service, and based on our calculations, the new model will not cover council’s costs and will in fact see council subsidising the service.
“Council can’t afford to subsidise a State Government service at a cost to ratepayers.”
Maryborough’s VicRoads agency has provided a full range of services to the community since long before its relocation to the shire’s customer service centre.
These services include vehicle registration, issuing a drivers licence or learners permit, and all vehicle type inspections.
Without Maryborough’s VicRoads agency, almost all of these services will no longer be available.
The nearest locations for the community to access these services will be as far as Ballarat, Castlemaine, Ararat or Bendigo.
It is understood council does not want the wider community to be without these much needed services and the implications of this new model is being assessed.
“We’re currently reviewing all implications of the new funding model, including for our staff, local residents, businesses and the broader community,” Mr Harriott said.
VicRoads were contacted for comment but were not able to respond before print deadlines on Thursday.