Friday, 24 September 2021.
‘THE Nationals in Government’ have their work cut out for them in delivering on an election commitment to take back up to 15,000 kilometres of regional roads from local councils to State ownership, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin predicts.
Ms Saffin was commenting on NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole’s announcement that the NSW Government had agreed to the transfer of 391 kilometres of priority regional roads across only eight Local Government Areas.
“It has taken ‘The Nationals in Government’ two-and-a-half years to only make a dent in their 15,000-kilometre target and at this rate they will struggle to fully deliver it by the next State election in 2023,” Ms Saffin said.
“Councils in our Electorate of Lismore were not successful under this priority round of transfers and reclassifications but I will continue to support them as they apply for transfers under the main round which opens for three months from next week.
“It makes sense for key connector roads between our communities to be upgraded to a higher standard once the Government accepts more transfer recommendations from its Independent Panel and finalises a long and complex legal process.
“The Government has budgeted $250-million towards these upgrades over the next three years and has listened to my concerted lobbying by giving a written commitment to working with councils to maintain maximise local employment opportunities.”
From Monday, 27 September, all NSW councils will be invited to submit proposals for reclassifications in the main round, with regional councils also invited to submit proposals for transfers, which is open until Friday 24 December 2021.
More information on the Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review and the work of the Independent Panel can be found at:
https://yoursay.transport.nsw.gov.au/56414/widgets/289905/documents/214990
https://yoursay.transport.nsw.gov.au/56414/widgets/289905/documents/214991
