McCORMACK CALLS FOR URGENT ROAD REPAIR FUNDING

The Nationals’ Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is calling on the Federal Government to at least match the NSW Government’s $500 million injection to repair roads badly damaged by recent extreme weather.

Mr McCormack said he had written to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, urging the Government to step up.

“The Riverina and Central West road network was smashed by flooding and heavy rain late last year and some roads are literally falling apart,” Mr McCormack said.

“So many more people have been travelling on these roads over recent weeks with holidays and the harvest season.”

Mr McCormack said it was not only Council controlled roads which had suffered, but major roads and highways, as well.

“On Friday I drove along the Newell Highway to Parkes and drove back to Wagga Wagga on Sunday and, quite frankly, parts of the highway between West Wyalong and Forbes are dangerous,” Mr McCormack said.

Mr McCormack said Wagga Wagga City Council had told him the estimated impacts of known damage to its road network was $1.19 million.

“You can multiply that figure several times to gauge the massive bill being faced by all Councils in the Riverina electorate,” Mr McCormack said.

“Councils, even with the State Government’s cash injection, will struggle to meet the costs of getting their roads back to a safe condition, let alone a good condition, so the Federal Government has to come to the party and at least match the $500 million for safety’s sake of all road users.”

Mr McCormack said the Government could deliver the funding quickly and effectively through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Programme, which he instituted as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.

“Through LRCI, Riverina and Central West councils were able to spend millions of dollars on improving their roads quickly and effectively,” Mr McCormack said.

“I call on the Federal Government to immediately at least match the NSW Government’s $500 million Local Roads Repair Program through the LRCI.”

This follows Mr McCormack’s call on the Federal Government for urgent assistance for regional road repairs on 4 October 2022.