From the beginning, Council has always committed that two-thirds of the Special Rate Variation (SRV) would be invested into improving our roads and transport network - a priority the community consistently identifies as one of the most important Council services. Twelve months on, Council can share that they have delivered on this promise and how it is making a tangible difference across our region.
The $4 million injection into Council's 2024-25 road maintenance budget has enabled the resealing of an impressive 540,000 square metres of roads this financial year. Of this work, 52% was completed on rural roads and 48% on urban streets, ensuring both our country roads and city streets are receiving attention.
In the 2024-2025 period, the entirety of the SRV funds has been spent, enabling road works to be completed on Duncans Creek Road, Rushes Creek Road, Garthowen Road, Nundle Road, Meldorn Lane, Browns Lane, Calala Lane, Wallamore Road, Rangari Road, Lindsays Gap Road, Lemon Gums Drive, Croydon Avenue, Edward Street (Tamworth), Flinders Street, Gill Street (Nundle), Harrier Parade, Werris Creek Road, Warral Road, Crawney Road and Darrell Road.
Beyond road surfaces the funds have been used on 60 km of roadside drainage works to protect the roads in our region from water damage, reducing the need for future repairs as often. Those include works at the Peel River levee bank, Tulipwood Crescent, Bournes Lane, Goonan Street, and Barnes Gully off Ebsworth Street.
"When we asked the community to support the SRV, we made a clear commitment that the majority of the funds would go towards our roads," said Mayor Russell Webb. "A year on, we can proudly say we are delivering on that promise."
Recent major flooding has left some roads in less-than-perfect condition however, the SRV funds enable Council to respond quickly to flood damage while still delivering our planned maintenance program. Without this funding, crews would have to be pulled from scheduled works to focus solely on flood repairs.
Road repairs are an ongoing task but thanks to the Special Rate Variation, more can be done and sooner to keep our roads safer and stronger for everyone who travels them.
