Local Roads Set To Benefit From $1 Billion Funding Injection

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP has today welcomed Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Roads Minister Melinda Pavey’s announcement of more than a billion dollars to fix local roads, replace timber bridges and reclaim up to 15,000km of Council roads in regional NSW.

A re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will:

• Establish a $500 million Fixing Local Roads program to assist councils to repair, maintain and seal local roads in regional areas;
• Establish a $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program to replace the worst timber bridges in regional and rural communities;
• Establish the process to transfer up to 15,000 kilometres of regional roads back to the State; and
• Set up an Independent Expert Panel to oversee the asset transfer process.

“Local roads like Jamberoo Mountain Road, Terry Street in Albion Park, Albatross Road in South Nowra and Bolong Road in Shoalhaven Heads will all be prioritised under our Fixing Local Roads program under a re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government,” Mr Ward said.

“We have listened to our local Councils, communities and stakeholders and we are delivering a safe and modern road network for many generations to come.

“We will assist local Councils with a fully funded program to replace timber bridges and repair local roads to ensure communities maintain access to towns, jobs, schools and hospital facilities.

“This funding will ease the pressure on both ratepayers and local Councils.

“We will be able to clear our local roads maintenance backlogs and see regional roads transferred back to the State and able to be repaired sooner which is great news for our region,” Mr Ward concluded.