Safer journeys are on the way across the Upper Hunter, with four projects rolling out under the latest round of the Australian and NSW Governments’ accelerated Fixing Local Roads program to improve local roads and create thousands of local jobs in the regions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said Round 2 of the Fixing Local Roads Program would fund more than 100 new road upgrades across the State, creating more than 1000 jobs.
“Safe, reliable roads are essential for communities in regional New South Wales – by improving roads, we are making a big difference to people’s lives in ensuring they get home sooner and safer,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The funding will improve the safety of roads in local communities, including repairing, patching, maintaining and sealing local roads.
“We know improved roads are crucial to regional communities – the more than 100 successful road projects recently announced will play a big role in helping residents and businesses recover from the effects of bushfires, drought, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.”
State Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said round two would deliver more than $8.5 million to priority local roads across the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, Singleton and Dungog LGAs.
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals in Government promised $500 million at the last election to help councils fix local roads – and with an additional $191 million from the Australian Government, we’ve been able to turbocharge this program and ensure even more regional communities benefit faster,” Mr Toole said.
“Across the first two rounds of this program alone, we’ll invest more than $25 million in local roads across the Upper Hunter that communities use every day to get to work, school or the shops and home again.
“Big infrastructure projects might create a lot of headlines but these are small projects that make a big difference in people’s everyday lives.
“This builds on our continued investment in a safer, stronger road network across the Upper Hunter. We’re not just helping councils improve local roads, we’re also making it possible for them to replace ageing timber bridges, announcing in February $28 million to replace 45 bridges across the Upper Hunter, including $16 million to Dungog Shire Council to replace 23 of its worst bridges.”
Projects being funded under round 2 of the Fixing Local Roads Program in the Upper Hunter include:
- Dungog Shire Council – Flat Tops Road – Stage 1: $924,000
- Muswellbrook Shire Council – Widden Valley Road: $553,396
- Singleton Council – Putty Valley Road : $2,340,000
- Upper Hunter Shire Council – Barrington Forest Road: $4,710,000
Round 1 of the Fixing Local Roads Program saw $243.6 million of joint funding allocated to 253 projects in 83 Local Government Areas, and Round 2 will see $150 million allocated to more than 100 road projects in 90 Local Government Areas.
All successful projects will be completed within two years to ensure local communities see the benefits as quickly as possible.
