Man Tackles 'Catastrophic' Pothole Crisis With Fluorescent Paint, Raising Funds for Repairs

Steve Panozzo, a resident of northeast Victoria, has taken it upon himself to highlight the perilous state of regional roads by painting thousands of potholes. Armed with fluorescent paint and a spray can, he marks the hazardous holes to alert drivers, describing himself as "a bloke who is utterly fed up" with the dangerous conditions.

“

I am incensed, it makes me angry

Panozzo's frustration stems from witnessing vehicles swerve to avoid deep potholes, a situation he deems "catastrophic." He worries that "avoidable catastrophic accidents" are inevitable if the problem persists. He has been marking potholes for three years, spending hundreds of dollars of his own money. In March, he launched a fundraising page, which has since garnered over $2,700 from about 70 donors, with some people even leaving cash donations under his helmet while he works.

“

It's a constant cycle of recurring potholes where road crews can't deal with new potholes; they have to continue to backtrack and deal with existing potholes that have reopened.

He argues that drivers facing high living costs should not have to bear the expense of making roads safer. The issue has become a major concern for residents, with potholes frequently reopening after repairs. Cindy Penny, a Bandiana resident, expressed her dismay, stating that money spent on repairs seems to be "just money down the drain" as the holes reappear after rain.

“

It's catastrophic

The state government is investing over $1 billion in road maintenance this year, while the opposition has pledged $5 billion for repairs if elected. However, residents like Penny remain skeptical about the sufficiency of these measures, fearing for the safety of loved ones on the poorly maintained roads.

“

It's inevitable that … we are going to have avoidable catastrophic accidents.