New South Wales councils have welcomed a pledge by the State Government to inject $1 billion into the regional road network, and called on all candidates to make the same commitment.
The call follows the announcement by Deputy Premier Paul Toole that the current Government, if re-elected, would significantly increase roads and rail funding in regional NSW in response to the state road emergency declared last year.
The funding commitment includes:
A further $400 million injection into the Fixing Local Roads program to help regional councils continue to repair, maintain and seal roads;
$300 million for the establishment of a new Fast Tracking Freight program to tackle freight pinch points on the road and rail network, better connect road and rail with key and emerging freight hubs and increase the capacity and reliability of the network; and
$300 million for a Build Back Better program to invest in more resilient state, regional and local road and transport infrastructure across regional NSW.
Local Government NSW President, Darriea Turley, said the road networks need to be built back better.
“They need to be built to higher standards so they can stand up against future floods and other natural disasters,” she said.
“We welcome this additional funding package which is so desperately needed, and are currently digging into the detail to allow us to fully assess how it should be best spent to deliver lasting results.
“Getting our roads up to scratch and having the ongoing funding to keep them there will not only save NSW and its people money in the long run, it will also help support the economic growth this state needs.”
Turley said despite the significance of the $500 million emergency pothole repair package announced by the Government, it would only go a short way to help fix the $2.5 billion disaster damage bill.
“So it is really pleasing that the Coalition has recognised that simply patching holes is not enough, and that future extreme weather events have the potential to literally wash away and repairs.”
In other news, Transport for NSW has opened an underground connection ahead of schedule as part of the third stage of WestConnex.
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