$10.1 million in funding

Lachlan Shire Council welcomes the State Government’s announcement of $10.1million for road upgrades and to bolster tourism and transport in the shire.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP, Sam Farraway announced the funding yesterday (Tuesday July 21) at the world-famous Utes in the Paddock installation and tourism precinct.

He was joined by Mayor John Medcalf OAM, Councillor Elaine Bendall, General Manager Greg Tory and senior Council staff.

The funding will allow for the upgrade of 8.7 kilometres of the Lachlan Valley Way and Gipps Way, near the tourism precinct. This will reduce its susceptibility to flooding and give motorists and freight operators better access to the shire.

The funding will also provide for the construction of a state-of-the-art visitor information centre at the tourism precinct. The new Visitor Information Centre will promote local and regional products, tourist attractions and experiences to encourage tourists to stay in the shire for longer.

Mayor Medcalf said he was excited about the funding announcement which would provide a much-needed boost to local tourism.

This is a very exciting day,” the Mayor said,” “it’s a game changer. Not only for Condobolin but for the whole of Lachlan Shire. It’s one of these things we’ve been working on for a long, long, long time”

The Mayor referred to the 2016 floods which caused great difficulties with traffic and freight movements for many weeks, saying the road works will alleviate those issues in the future.

“This money will fix that problem and also combined with the works we need to do on the Utes in the Paddock and also the Jockeys Memorial. It certainly will make Lachlan Shire one of those places that people need to visit.”

The Mayor said Lachlan Shire has many tourism attractions and the new visitor centre will vastly improve the visitor experience.

“Under the present COVID situation, people need to visit within New South Wales and this is a place they definitely should come to,” he said.