Cr Johnston said the thoroughfare that links Dungog with Raymond Terrace, called Main Road 301, had two sections that had not been upgraded, and the road that linked Stroud, Dungog and Maitland, called Main Road 101, also needed attention. 

He said the Dungog to Raymond Terrace stretch received state government funding several years ago but the money had run out before the project was finished. A section north of Clarence Town and near Destiny Haven needs to be reconstructed. Cr Johnston estimated the cost of this work would be $2 million. 

He said a recent $10 million state government grant for Main Road 101, to be released over four years, was a huge help but more money was needed to make it all safe.

“Our roads are our biggest burden so any help through the various programs that are run by the federal and the state governments are extremely welcome,” Cr Johnston said. “We’ve very thankful for the support that we’ve had, but we always need more. We’d love to see Main Road 301 completed.”

Cr Johnston said upgrading roads offered a huge boost to the local economy if the council and local contractors were able to complete the work.

A Coalition government would upgrade the road surface at Parke Street, which becomes the billy cart circuit each year for the annual derby. The funding would be on top of the $923,000 earmarked for work on the stretch through the Roads to Recovery program.

Lyne MP Dr David Gillespie made the announcement last week, saying Parke Street was “the main transport link and route to the Barrington Tops camping ground where thousands of people visit each year”.