Funding announced to tackle potholes in roads

Council has secured additional funding to repair potholes on local and regional roads damaged in the ongoing wet weather events that have hit the Warrumbungle local government area over the last 12 months.

“This is very welcome news and the funding will be hugely helpful in our recovery from successive natural disasters to carry out pothole repairs across the Shire,” said Warrumbungle Shire Council Mayor, Councillor Ambrose Doolan. “This funding, totaling $864,682.68, will provide additional support for Council in overcoming the current situation with our road network, however much more is needed in the circumstances. Council is continuing to push for support with rectification and ‘betterment’ funding to help ensure that some of the problems are not faced again.”  

“Warrumbungle Shire Council manages over 2,500km of roads and with the relentless rain events the pressure is mounting to repair this extensive road network for the safety of the community and motorists,” said Cr Doolan.    

“Council staff have identified 1800 defects to repair on 227 roads as a result of the natural disaster event of November 2021. Many of these roads have been further damaged due to the ongoing wet weather with additional natural disaster events in August, September and October this year,” Cr Doolan explained. 

“Council staff have been working many additional hours repairing the road network. This new funding will allow Council to continue this work while we await the natural disaster funding. As is happening with wider road restoration works, pothole repairs will be carefully prioritised to maximise the benefit of the funding.”

“Restoring the condition of our roads will be a long process. This latest funding assistance must be spent by January 2024,” said Cr Doolan.

“This extra funding, provided under the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round, is a big support to our community and to the crews working on Council’s roads. We are very grateful to the State government for providing this additional funding round and thank Minister Sam Farraway for this assistance,” concluded Cr Doolan.

Click here to download the media release

Last Updated: 13 Dec 2022