Narrabri Shire mayor to lead push for emergency declaration

Narrabri Shire mayor Ron Campbell will today lead a push for council to back a request to declare a state-wide road emergency.

The Country Mayors Association of NSW will write to the Prime Minister and NSW Premier for the roads declaration and is seeking the support of its member councils, including Narrabri.

Narrabri Shire is among many local government areas impacted by recent major flood events, which have caused extensive damage to local road networks.

In addition to the declaration, the state and federal governments will be called upon to significantly increase their existing road funding commitments in wake of the major floods.

Damage to roads across the state is estimated at $2.5 billion.

In a report to be tabled at today’s meeting of Narrabri Shire Council, the mayor will call on council to endorse the state-wide push.

“We are all well aware the Narrabri Shire has been hit by a seemingly relentless wave of flood events in the past 12 months,” Cr Campbell said.

“We have faced, and may continue to face, an unprecedented and unrelenting series of natural disasters that has seen residents and business owners cleaning up again and again, people isolated, workers unable to get to work, and students unable to get to training or school.

“Our road network, and the road network of shires across the state, have disastrous damage.

“We are facing a task that is beyond the reasonable scope of any local government authority.

“We face an unprecedented disaster that requires an unprecedented response.”

As part of the statewide roads emergency, LGA NSW and Country Mayors Association of NSW are calling for:
• An acceleration and significant increase in funding for the $1.1 billion Fixing Local Roads and Fixing Country Bridges program from the NSW government.
• A boost to Road Block Grant funding to compensate for the damage to the regional road network from the federal government.
• New funding to provide councils with plant machinery and skilled workers to expedite road repairs from the federal government.

“This is an emergency, and it is time to seek help, and by supporting this Mayoral Minute, you are endorsing that I write to the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and the Premier of New South Wales Dominic Perrottet pleading for immediate action,” the mayor said in his report.