Farmers welcome road repair plan

NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon has welcomed a billion-dollar funding commitment for regional roads from the Coalition.

On Friday Deputy Premier Paul Toole announced an extra $400 million for the Fixing Local Roads program, along with $300 million each for new ‘Fast Tracking Freight’ and ‘Build Back Better’ programs.

Mrs Reardon said it was a positive announcement that committed a longer-term pipeline of funding for roads and rail.

“There are many communities that have spent the better part of a year dodging potholes and dealing with damaged vehicles as a result of our foodaffected roads,” Mrs Reardon said.

“NSW Farmers called on the NSW Government to spend $1 billion on regional roads, and while we’d rather see it this side of an election, this is a promising announcement.

“What we need now is a strategic approach to the fow of this funding to local government; state and federal governments need to improve the current grant application process to increase effciency and the delivery outcome of every dollar invested.”

Local councils across the state are facing a backlog of repair works as a result of ongoing extreme weather and fooding, and Mrs Reardon said there were signifcant challenges in accessing suitably skilled and experienced contractors and supplies.

“There is enormous pressure on the state road system, and it’s a problem that could be improved by giving councils ongoing certainty of funding for upgrades, maintenance and repair,” Mrs Reardon said.

“This current system of competing for contractors who try to do a job within funding constraints has led us to this point, we need a new way forward.

“Our farmers and their communities need and deserve the safest and most effcient road and rail network, just as our customers need the certainty of affordable food.”

Mrs Reardon also said the focus on improving rail lines was good news, and called for the government to adopt a minimum standard of 25 Tonne Total Axle Load while removing pinch and choke points.

“Regional freight movements rely on cost effective options to get food and fbre from farm gate to dinner plate – especially during high demand period such as our grain harvest – and local road and rail improvements must meet the same standard for access,” Mrs Reardon said.

“Road and rail funding priorities should not be seen in isolation –without a connected system from road to rail to port we run the risk of roads that look good but don’t improve freight costs or enhance freight distribution.

“There was so much rail line damaged due to food waters – the rail funding must also allow for future-proofng by ensuring adequate and regular draining points to ensure storm-water can move and not take the rail with it.”