Junee Shire Council will soon start receiving funds totalling $301,004.35 for urgent pothole repairs, under the NSW Government’s $50 million Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the money was going straight into Junee Shire Council’s bank account to help them cover the extra costs and workload pressures following this year’s unprecedented rain and storms.
“These grants are a rapid injection of cash to help councils get on with the job of repairing potholes to get us through the wet summer ahead,” Ms Cooke said.
“This is on top of the ongoing investment in a stronger road network through Fixing Local Roads, Fixing Country Roads and Fixing Country Bridges.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said all 94 regional councils that applied for funding had been approved for grants.
“From December, councils across regional NSW will receive their share of $50 million to repair pothole-ravaged local and regional roads,” Mr Farraway said.
“This additional support will help councils to repair their most damaged roads, improving safety and reducing wear and tear on vehicles.
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is backing in our councils with this dedicated pothole repair funding which is the first of its kind in NSW.”
Junee Shire Council Mayor, Cr Neil Smith, welcomed the extra money announced under the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round.
“We have nearly 900 kilometres of local and regional roads to manage across the Junee Shire. Every dollar counts towards ensuring they are repaired as quickly as possible,” Cr Smith said
“Junee Shire Council has always been very proud of the way it has maintained it’s road network. The damage that we have seen during the continued wet weather has been worse than anyone can remember. Combine this with the upcoming bumper harvest and the risk to our roads is very worrying,”
“The silver lining through these threatening clouds, has been something to brighten our outlook and is very much appreciated. That silver lining, shining brightly, is the once off grant being provided to many country councils by the NSW State Government for pothole repair work,”
“Council has been diligently trying to keep up with pothole repairs and these funds will enable us to continue to do so until proper repairs can occur when the weather eventually clears up and permits us to do so. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Minister for Transport, Sam Farraway and to our State member, Steph Cooke, for their advocacy and assistance.”
