State government announces funds for road repairs

The NSW government has announced that $50 million will go towards helping councils across regional NSW to fix the increasing number of potholes brought on by ongoing wet weather.

Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson, the state Member for Tamworth, said local councils, including Narrabri Shire, can apply for funding to help address their highest priority pothole repairs through the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round.

“We have seen our local and regional road networks crumble under the pressure of ongoing and unprecedented wet weather, which is a significant concern for local families, farmers and the freight industry,” Mr Anderson said.

“Our communities have been left frustrated by the never-ending repair work, and our councils have been bearing the cost, which is why the NSW government is stepping in to provide critical financial support.

“This fund will help ease the pressure on councils and boost the resources they can draw on to improve road safety in the region quicker.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said NSW has had more than its fair share of natural disasters and extreme weather and that more than 135,000 potholes have been repaired on state roads in regional NSW since February.

“We certainly have plenty more potholes that still require attention, particularly on council-managed roads, which is why our government is putting more money on the table for councils to repair potholes on the roads regional communities use every day,” Mr Farraway said.

“This funding is available to help every regional council across the state to carry out emergency repairs and would fix roughly more than 420,000 potholes on their roads.”

Mr Farraway said the new funding builds on the $500 million invested by the NSW government through the Fixing Local Roads program to help regional councils repair, maintain and seal local roads across the state.

Funding under the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round is available to 95 regional councils and authorities to help repair potholes on regional and local roads.

Work must be completed between January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024.

Applications for funding are open for two weeks, with funding announced in November so councils can begin work as soon as possible.