Council set to receive $791,613 thanks to Fixing Local Roads

Published on 28 November 2022

Federation Council is one of five local councils in the Albury Electorate to receive a share of the NSW Government’s $50 million Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round. Under the fund, Council is set to receive $791,613.91 for urgent pothole repairs. 

Member for Albury, Justin Clancy said he was pleased to see funding going straight into the bank accounts of councils 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,” Mr Clancy said.

 “We understand that this is really a start, with much work to follow in repairing our road network through these unprecedented conditions.”

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.”

Federation Council Mayor, Cr Pat Bourke, said the LGA had been hit by floods and severe weather several times this year, and Council welcomed the extra money announced under the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round.

“Council appreciates the funding that has been offered to assist us in our flood recovery efforts,” Mayor Bourke said.

“We need to start somewhere, and this fund will enable us to do that. We still have a long way to go, with the damage bill within our LGA expected to be in the millions. Throughout my time in Local Government, I have never seen our roads in such a state following widespread flooding and years of consistent wet weather conditions. We will continue to inspect road damage and advocate to our State and Federal members for more funding opportunities for our regions.”

Mayor Bourke thanked the NSW State Government for their ongoing support. 

The NSW Road network is more than 180,000 kilometres long, with local councils currently responsible for maintaining well in excess 85 per cent of it, including regional and local roads.