Labor’s $10m pledge
NSW Labor will commit $10.5 million to halve Dungog Shire Council’s road infrastructure backlog if it wins government next year.
NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley, NSW Deputy Opposition Leader Penny Sharpe, and NSW Country Labor Candidate for Upper Hunter Martin Rush made the announcement in Dungog last week.
Mr Daley said a NSW Labor Government would work to ensure that councils in rural and regional areas would not carry an unfair burden on roads funding.
“NSW Labor’s priorities are schools, hospitals and infrastructure, not Sydney stadiums,” said Mr Daley.
“That’s why we’re committed to spending $10.5 million to reduce the road maintenance backlog in Dungog Shire.
“Dungog is the only council in NSW without a state or federal road.
“NSW Labor will implement a review into road classification and work to ease the burden Dungog Shire Council, and other councils like it, have to bear in terms of spending on rural and regional roads.”
Mr Rush said the council had been dealing with an extraordinarily large road budget in incredibly difficult circumstances.
“The Berejiklian Government has had no plan to deal with Dungog Shire Council’s future,” he said.
“Road funding is safety funding and should be prioritised before spending billions on Sydney stadiums.”
Mayor Tracy Norman welcomed the announcement.
“The lack of state or federal responsibility for the area’s road network means that council must quarantine over half of its annual budget for roads, one of the highest proportions for a NSW Council,” she said.
“This is the hand up, not the hand out that Dungog Shire Council is looking for from State Government.
“It addresses the community view that the state government must contribute and partner with the community in this heavy financial lift towards improved assets and financial sustainability.
“I look forward to hearing from the NSW State Government, in particular Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnson to understand their pre-election commitment.”