71‑year‑old motorcyclist injured after hitting a pothole on Western Highway

The data shows that the Western Highway was second only to the Princes Freeway when it came to pothole reports, but that road authorities were better at plugging them quickly compared with some other roads in the state.

In June alone, 773 new potholes opened up along the Western Highway, but all but nine were mended that same month.

The report also shows that almost half of the Western Highway that was surveyed was in very poor condition for remaining road life, with very poor being defined as roads with less than five years of useful life remaining. That represents a rise of 20 per cent since 2021.

In Pyrenees Shire, where Sunday’s fatal motorcycle crash happened, 31 per cent of the Western Highway was in very poor condition in 2024, and 11.8 per cent was in very good condition (essentially, a road in new condition).

According to the auditor-general’s data, there were no open potholes along the Western Highway in the Pyrenees by June 2026, but a total of 1055 were identified and fixed over a two-year period.

The Department of Transport and Planning released on Friday its latest Motorcyclist Safety Action Plan, noting motorcyclists account for 18 per cent of all fatal and other serious road injuries, despite making up less than 4 per cent of all road users.

“Motorcycles are particularly susceptible to road hazards and adverse conditions, while roads are not always maintained with optimal safety for motorcyclists in mind,” the report said.

The Department of Transport and Planning has said more than $3 billion a year is needed to stop government-owned and managed roads falling into further disrepair, a figure far above what both major parties have proposed spending.

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