Call for Rangari Road works to proceed following cost increase

Continued upgrades of Rangari Road have reached a standstill following an unexpected cost blow-out.

Tamworth Regional Council’s call for tender on the road upgrade has seen quotes provided for the development much higher than anticipated.

Twenty kilometres of road are to be widened and bitumised as part of the project.

In total, 30 kilometres of Rangari Road are gravel – 10.2 kilometres in Narrabri Shire, 15.7 kilometres in Gunnedah and 3.8 kilometres in Tamworth.

The stretch of Rangari Road impacted by the expected cost blow-out runs from almost four kilometres east of the Gunnedah/Tamworth council area boundary to the Gunnedah/Narrabri council area boundary past Wean Road.

More than $12 million has been contributed to the project from the NSW government as well as neighbouring Gunnedah and Tamworth shires.

The total contribution includes an additional $1.6 million from the state government late last year after Member for Tamworth sourced additional funding for the project.

Mining and agricultural industries in and around Boggabri use the road as a key route.

Boggabri resident and businessowner Pete Brien is calling for the project to proceed, regardless of the unexpected increase in cost.

“Not having this proceed is just dangerous for the people who use it,” said Mr Brien who is a local plumber in the region. “We’ve got three major mines in the Boggabri area, it’s a major route to get people to and from work.

“I use 20 kilometres of the road every day, there’s one section I use that’s dirt and it’s atrocious,” Mr Brien said.

“I really can’t understand why we can’t get something done about it, they’ve been awarded $12 million.”

Once upgrade works are completed, the Narrabri portion of Rangari Road would remain unsealed from the council boundary to where the
bitumised section currently starts near Braymont Road.

Tamworth mayor Russell Webb said there were a number of factors that have contributed to construction quotations inflating since the project was first budgeted.

“Council has seen quotations for construction skyrocket across the board over the past 12 months, which is a result of the level of current demand in the sector right across New South Wales,” Cr Webb said.

“In the time it has taken to become shovel ready on this project, the original budget allocated for the original scope of work is no longer going to be enough to deliver the upgrade as planned.”

Kevin Anderson, state Member for Tamworth and Perrottet government cabinet member, has previously told media of the need to upgrade the road.

“Rangari Road is a bone shaker and a tyre tester. That is why I committed to sealing the road in 2019,” Mr Anderson said last year when advocating for additional funding for the project.

“This is an important road, not only for those who live on the road, but for the miners, ag workers and families who use the road every day to get from point A to B.”

Tamworth Regional Council has engaged in discussions with the NSW government to obtain additional funds to ensure the project’s completion.

The Rangari Road project has received joint funding from the NSW government, Gunnedah Shire Council and Tamworth Regional Council with contributions to the project so far including $12,030,305 from the NSW government.

Of the government funding, $9 million is from the NSW Accelerated Regional Road Program, $1.4 million is from the NSW Resources for
Regions (Gunnedah Shire Council) and $1.6 million from NSW election commitments.

Tamworth Regional Council has contributed $663,333.

This project is one of 12 regional road projects to receive a funding boost as part of the NSW government’s $3 billion stimulus package announced in 2020.