THE ACT government has paid out more than $43,000 this year to drivers who claim their vehicles have been damaged by potholes.

The Canberra Liberals say the pot hole claims figure, revealed during a recent estimates hearings, shows the government needs to do more to improve the territory’s roads.

“Canberrans understand that the more it rains the more likely potholes are to occur, however the number of potholes and the scale of these potholes demonstrate that more must be done to improve our roads,” Shadow Minister for City Services Nicole Lawder said.

Lawder said the consistent rain and the lack of proper maintenance during the warmer months has led to the “deterioration” of ACT roads with parts of the capital plagued by “dangerous” pot holes.

She argues that it’s not unreasonable for Canberrans to expect safe and usable roads given the “exorbitant” rates they pay.

“Instead, the government is being forced to hand out ratepayers’ money to motorists because they can’t deliver safe roads,” she said.

“It’s obvious that the Labor-Greens government has been failing to undertake proper road maintenance during warmer months and the state of our roads show the consequences of that.

“You don’t fix the roof on a rainy day yet that’s exactly the reactive, lazy approach this government is taking to road maintenance.”

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