The NSW Government have fast-tracked the opening of applications for the $500 million Regional and Local Roads Repair Program.
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said councils across the state can now apply earlier for their slice of $500 million in NSW Government funding for urgent road repairs.
"Our priority is to make sure NSW roads are in the best condition possible so tradies and truckies can work and families can make their way home from holidays safely," Mrs Ward said.
"All 128 councils are eligible for a one-off payment to help them fix roads that have been damaged by successive severe weather events throughout 2022.
"Applications will now open from 11 January 2023 and the NSW Government will ensure money starts to drop into council bank accounts within weeks to ensure repairs can get underway as soon as possible."
Councils need to make an application to Transport for NSW, which will allocate the funds based on total kilometres of roads managed in each local government area.
The funding split will provide $280 million for rural and regional councils and $220 million for councils in Greater Sydney and outer metropolitan areas.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the NSW Government made the decision to open applications earlier following an overwhelmingly positive response from mayors and councils.
"We've fast-tracked this cash injection and made the process simple so councils can focus on important road repairs that will keep communities connected and safe," Mr Farraway said.
"We understand the job councils have ahead of them and that's why we have been helping with financial assistance since early last year and providing engineers, road workers and machinery.
"Our road maintenance crews have been hard at work repairing the state-managed road network since the first bout of serve weather hit, patching more than 200,000 potholes on major roads and highways since last February.
"We have already provided $50 million to regional councils that will allow them to repair over 400,000 potholes on their roads but this funding will go further and see sections of roads regraded and rebuilt in the worst hit parts of the state."
This new money is on top of existing funding and assistance to councils including the Regional Roads Block Grant program and NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements.
