MidCoast Council
While MidCoast Council is spending more than $68 million on roads this year, this isn't enough to halt the deterioration which continues to cause frustration in the community.
Deputy Mayor Jeremy Miller explained that while Council is working hard to find every dollar it can to throw at the problem, it isn't enough to get the road network to where the community expects.
"We know that we need to invest an additional $35 million into our roads each year to keep them at a satisfactory condition and that is simply money we do not have."
This year has seen an additional $6.7 million allocated to roads, bringing the total to $68.47 million, after a close review of costs and a number of cuts.
Cr Miller said the decades of neglect that have largely contributed to the decay of the road network have been compounded by the number of large rainfall events the region has endured in the past 12 months, conditions which have contributed to poor roads and potholes.
"The message from the community had been received loud and clear. We know our roads are not what they should be - we drive on these roads every day as well."
However, Cr Miller said further improvements to the road network will rely on extra funding from external sources.
"We are so heavily reliant on outside funding from the State and Federal Governments, and we will continue to lobby for more help, but we just don't have the money to get them to where they should be," he explained.
Council will continue working on improving our roads where we can, finding extra internal revenue sources, and attempting to make every dollar spent go further.
"Council operates within a finite budget and must prioritise repairs based on risk, traffic volumes, and available funding.
"Temporary patching, while not ideal, is often the only immediate measure to reduce danger until a more permanent reconstruction can be scheduled.
"We acknowledge these are short-term fixes, and we share the community's desire for more lasting solutions."
Cr Miller urged residents to continue using the "Report and Request" feature on Council's website and to visit the MidCoast Roads Hub to see upcoming works.
MidCoast Roads Hub: http://www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/roadshub.
Report and Request: https://www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/report.
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