$25 million for Dungog Roads

Deputy Premier

The people of Dungog in the Upper Hunter will benefit from a $25 million investment by the NSW Government to upgrade and improve the Dungog local road network.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole visited Dungog today to make the announcement alongside the NSW Nationals candidate for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzell.

“This brand new $25 million funding package from the NSW Government will help Dungog Shire Council to tackle their $23.8 million maintenance backlog and get these roads back into prime condition, which this community deserves,” Mr Barilaro said.

“We know the roads across the Dungog Shire are not up to standard and a reliable road network is essential for a thriving region, which is exactly why we are delivering this funding, to ensure a safer and stronger Upper Hunter.

“When Labor was last in government, one of its first actions was to dump more than 100 kilometres of roads on Dungog Shire Council overnight, increasing the area of roads under its control by about 20 per cent in a massive hit to its maintenance budget.

“The NSW Government is righting Labor’s wrongs by reclaiming the management of thousands of kilometres of roads across the state to take the onus off councils and put it back on the government.

“That process is underway, but it will take time, and in the interim, we will continue to invest in road networks across NSW, because an investment in local roads is an investment in the lives of the people who live in that community.”

Mr Toole said in the past 12 months alone, the NSW Government has invested more than $21 million in projects on Dungog’s local road network.

“Only last week, I was out near Vacy to see work underway on Summer Hill Road – one of four road upgrades we’re funding with more than $5.4 million from our Fixing Local Roads program,” Mr Toole said.

“In the coming months, locals will also see work get underway on the first four of 23 ageing timber bridges on the local road network that will be replaced with modern structures that meet the community’s needs thanks to more than $16 million in funding through our Fixing Country Bridges program.

“Since 2011, the NSW Government has invested more than $100 million into better roads and bridges right across the Dungog Shire.

“We know how important good local roads are in getting families to work, to school, to the shops and home again safely – and we’re working with council to deliver a safer, stronger road network that delivers on the needs of Dungog now and into the future.”

Priorities for upgrades under the $25 million package will be determined by Dungog Shire Council in consultation with Transport for NSW.

/Public Release. View in full here.