Mayor announces $40 million roads program

Bland Shire Mayor Tony Lord has announced that Council will spend an estimated $40 million on road works over the next three years.

The announcement follows the adoption of Council’s 2018-2019 roads program at its July monthly meeting and the confirmation of $19.65 million in flood damage funding from the Roads and Maritime Service (RMS).

The flood damage funding was secured after almost two years of negotiations following the July and September 2016 floods and will fund road works on 185 roads spread across the Bland Shire over the next three years.

In addition, Council has adopted a 2018-2019 roads program incorporating works on 41 local roads.

“The flood damage funding will allow Council contractors to carry out long awaited works on local roads which were severely damaged during the 2016 floods to restore them to their previous condition,” Mayor Lord said.

“Council has been in deep negotiations with the RMS for the best part of two years to ensure we receive fair compensation for the damage incurred to our road network and we thank the local community and rural residents in particular for their patience during this time.

“The flood damaged program will be strategically rolled out over the next three years by which time we expect the community will notice significantly improved conditions and outcomes.

“At the same time, Council remains committed to its own road funding program which has identified 41 important local roads for works and repairs in 2018-2019 subject to weather and other circumstances.”

In a landmark announcement, Mayor Lord said Council will spend almost $20 million repairing flood damaged roads and a further $20 million from its own budget over the next three years maintaining and improving the local road network.

Faced with the second longest road network in the state, Council is also committed to exploring new technologies, techniques and practices in an effort to further improve road maintenance efficiencies and potentially deliver even greater benefits to local residents into the future.

Council plans to undertake a series of trials on Hollands Lane during the current financial year. A number of new and suggested techniques and materials will be tested and monitored for effectiveness and anticipated length of life.

As a potential future alternative for maintaining unsealed roads, Council will also complete a trial section of Jetpatcher seal on a small unsealed road near a town or village which is regularly used.

2018-2019 Council Road Program

Road

Part or full length?

ADLERS LANE

Part

ALLEENA ROAD

Part

ARIAH PARK ROAD

Part

BARTELS LANE

Full

BECKOM ROAD

Part

BELLARWI ROAD

Part

BENA ROAD

Part

BUDDIGOWER ROAD

Full

BUGGAJOOL ROAD

Full

CHARCOAL TANK ROAD

Full

COLWILLS LANE

Full

CROOKS LANE

Full

CROSS LANE

Part

FISHERS LANE

Full

GARDNERS LANE

Full

GOLDEN HILLS ROAD

Full

GUNN ROAD

Full

JILLETT ROAD

Full

KITTOS LANE

Full

LESLIES LANE

Full

LEWES ROAD

Full

MANGLEDORFS LANE

Full

MCDERMOTTS LANE

Full

MIRROOL ROAD

Full

MOONEYS LANE

Full

MUD HUT EAST ROAD

Full

NARRIAH ROAD

Part

NORTH YALGOGRIN ROAD

Full

OBRIENS LANE

Full

PAYNES ROAD

Part

PURSEHOUSE LANE

Full

RICHARDS LANE

Full

RUSSELLS LANE

Part

SANDY CREEK ROAD

Part

SPAULS LANE

Full

SUTCLIFFES LANE

Full

TIMOTHYS LANE

Full

TREMBATHS LANE

Full

TYNDALLS LANE

Part

WARGIN ROAD

Part

WEJA ROAD

Full

The roads program will be carried out by Council staff while the flood damage works, in order to meet NSW Government flood damage guidelines, will be completed by contractors. The three year flood damage program is attached.