The NSW Labor Government is helping take the pressure of Muswellbrook Shire Council by assuming responsibility for two local roads critical to the state's future energy needs.
Bengalla Road and Wybong Road, between Bengalla Road and the Golden Highway, will soon be reclassified from local to state roads, opening the door to more potential investment from the NSW Government.
The reclassification comes after the former Liberal and National Government ignored the council's requests for help and failed to deliver on its promise to reclassify 15,000 kilometres of road.
Both of these roads are important freight transport routes that have previously been tasked with handling over size and/or over mass (OSOM) vehicle movements for the mines in the Muswellbrook local government area.
With more OSOM vehicles increasingly needing to access Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) in the Central West Orana and New England Regions, the NSW Labor Government has stepped up to support council through a road reclassification and agreed to take responsibility for management of the roads given the critical role they play in securing the state's future energy supply.
The additional support for Muswellbrook Shire Council is part of a suite of measures the NSW Government is delivering to help regional councils improve their road networks by:
- rolling out a $390 million Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund to help pay for urgent repairs
- providing a further $224.5 million in grants to councils for local and regional road maintenance and upgrades through a range of programs and subsidy arrangements
- investing $49.7 million to finish Fixing Local Roads projects announced by the former government but never delivered.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
"The NSW Labor Government is proud to be getting on with the job of preparing roads in the regions for our future energy needs and supporting local councils with challenges change can bring.
"In addition to our $128.5 million investment in planning and delivering port to project upgrades announced in the budget, the ongoing investment that will be released through the reclassification will take the financial burden off Muswellbrook Council, whose ratepayers contribute so much to the wealth of our state.
"Unlike the former government who forked out a fortune on a failed road reclassification review, ignored its recommendations and kept the final report secret - the NSW Labor Government is actually delivering what councils need and not making unfunded promises.
"I thank Muswellbrook Shire Council for its advocacy, patience and commitment to working together to improve roads in the region."
Labor's spokesperson for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal said:
"Residents of Upper Hunter know that certain local roads are critical to support over size and/or over mass (OSOM) vehicle movements.
"The reclassification of these roads to state roads will remove a significant financial and administrative burden on Muswellbrook Council from a planning and operational perspective, as these movements will continue for many years.
"This is a welcome and necessary step in the NSW Government's plan to transform the way the state moves renewable energy equipment throughout the state."
Muswellbrook Mayor Steve Reynolds said:
"Improving the current condition of our roads and bringing them to an acceptable standard before these truck movements begin is crucial.
"Council's priority, as always, is the safety of residents and we welcome the reclassification of these roads from local to state.
"Road conditions must be fit for purpose, and strategies in place to minimise the impact on road users, such as laybacks. Continual maintenance is paramount so as our ratepayers don't carry the burden."
