Armidale Regional Council Roads and Maintenance Program Leader Mark Burgess, left, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Mayor Simon Murray on Puddledock Road, north of Armidale.
Thursday, 14 February 2019
ARMIDALE Regional Council has secured a $300,000 grant from the State Government to upgrade four local roads to support the increased movement of stock, feed and water as part of the drought relief package from NSW Government, Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall said Booralong, Morden, Puddledock and Toms Gully Road at Black Mountain were all set to have maintenance work done on them as part of the funding.
“These improvements are vitally important to the traffic along these routes, especially in helping ensure that there are plenty of freight options for farmers along the way,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s an important step and I’m glad Armidale Regional Council is receiving further funding from the government to help with these works, especially the New England Highway alternate routes of Puddledock Road and Toms Gully Road.
“Every bit of extra road funding makes a huge difference in our region and this grant adds to the more than $70 million in state government funded road upgrade projects currently underway across our region.”
The work to be conducted on Booralong Road will look at removing vegetation that is causing a narrowing of the road.
Moredun Road’s partially collapsed causeway will see repairs to mitigate a complete collapse to ensure that a detour down the gravel road of Whites Road won’t be required.
Tom Gully’s Road will receive some much needed drainage work to ensure that stormwater will drain from the road effectively. Puddledock road will see maintenance work done on 25 separate pavement failures as a result of heavy vehicle traffic.
Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray said that the funding was extremely welcome to further protect the district against the effects of drought and maintain the health of four vital rural roads in the region.
“These roads are essential bypasses when the New England Highway has to be closed and must stand up to high volumes of heavy vehicles at these times,” Cr Murray said.
“Their importance and volume of heavy vehicles are heightened during a drought, when farmers must transport higher volumes of feed and livestock.”
Mr Marshall said the Drought Relief Heavy Vehicle Access Program was announced in October last year and offered an additional $15 million toward the cost of maintenance and minor improvement work on council roads and roadsides.
“Eligible councils can apply for up to $300,000 to help with road maintenance and improvements to accommodate increased freight movements,” Mr Marshall said.
“These improvements will contribute to heavy vehicle access, in support of the drought relief task.”
“The changes will support farmers impacted by the drought by improving heavy vehicle access on local roads, which has increased as a result of the drought conditions.”