WARD WELCOMES ROADS FUNDING

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has welcomed over $5.8 million in funding under the State Government’s Regional and Local Roads Repair Program to help two local Councils to undertake priority maintenance works and repair of potholes.

Funding includes:

• $4.6 million for Shoalhaven City Council.

• $1.2 million for Shellharbour City Council.

Mr Ward said that whilst he welcomes this funding, councils and the state government also need to be working towards betterment rather than patchwork solutions.

“I am pleased that the NSW Minister for Regional Roads has allocated this funding for Shoalhaven and Shellharbour Councils which will make a significant difference. Whilst I will always argue for more, I welcome the allocated funding,” Mr Ward said.

“This funding will be made available for priority maintenance works and immediate repair of potholes on Local and Regional Roads managed by Shoalhaven Council and Shellharbour Council. This obviously comes on top of existing council programs.

“The only problem I see with funding like this is it encourages repairs without betterment. By ‘betterment’ I mean improving road design, drainage and other elements which improve road conditions and reduce maintenance cost over the life of road assets.

“Whilst we see billions of dollars spent through programs like this combined with natural disaster funding offered to local authorities through existing arrangements, I can’t help but feel like we are throwing good money after bad. Repairs are important but communities are also looking for quality works that seek to future-proof road assets that also make them more resilient,” Mr Ward concluded.