COMMUNITY HAS $9.7-MILLION WIN ON ROADS, HUGE BACKLOG REMAINS

LISMORE City Council, Kyogle Council, Tenterfield

Shire Council and Tweed Shire Council will share a total of $9,742,573 under the Regional and Local Roads Repair Program (RLRRP) recently announced.

Ms Saffin noted the Lismore Electorate Councils’ hard work in pulling together the submissions for this program.

Ms Saffin stated, “In our areas, cars are our primary mode of travel. A major topic of conversation is the number of flat tyres, shock absorbers and mechanical failures we get from hitting potholes that are more like craters.

“Even though we all know where the potholes are, there are times when we just cannot avoid going right into them,” Ms Saffin said.

“I spent much of last year pursuing the NSW Government about the parlous state of roads across the Lismore Electorate, and to honour their 2019 election commitment showcased by the Nationals to take back 15,000 kilometres of regional roads.

“I have to ask where that is at four years later, with not one kilometre taken back into State hands.”

Ms Saffin stated, “We are also dealing with historic neglect here because in 2016-2017 the NRMA identified a roads maintenance backlog of $151.7 million in local government areas within the Lismore Electorate, so nearly $10 million is a small amount but a start.

“Let us hope the other funds flow. It will be much more than the $151.7 million figure of

2016-2017,” Ms Saffin said.

“It is amazing what an election can do to exercise minds in Sydney and it would be even better to get the full funding we need.

“Be assured, I shall continue to pursue with vim and vigour”, Ms Saffin concluded.

Allocations under the $500-million Regional and Local Roads Repair Program include:

• Tenterfield Shire Council -- $3,071,634 for its 1,685-kilometre road network (regional and local roads)

• Tweed Shire Council -- $2,273,610 for its 1,247-kilometre road network.

• Lismore City Council -- $2,216,669 for its 1,234-kilometre road network.

• Kyogle Council -- $2,180,660 for its 1,196-kilometre road network.

• Total -$9,742,573.