Nationals Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed the investment of $891,000 for the Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council under the latest round of the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads Program.
“The projects will give Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council a helping hand to address their maintenance backlog and to maintain roads delivering safer trips around the area,” Ms Cooke said.
“The communities of Cootamundra and Gundagai are already reaping the benefits of this program with $5.4 million invested on local roads from the first two rounds.
“Over the three rounds of Fixing Local Roads, the Cootamundra electorate has received a total of over $42 million to improve our local road networks.”
Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Mayor Abb McAlister says this funding is crucial for roads in the Cootamundra Gundagai area.
“The wet weather has really taken a toll on our roads this year and this is just the start of getting them back up to scratch,” Cr McAlister said.
“Although we haven’t had many visitors on the roads around our region due to COVID-19, we have seen a substantial amount of heavy vehicle operators travelling through the area as it’s a main transport route for them.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said Fixing Local Roads had already delivered more than 67 projects across the electorate.
“We know that sometimes it’s small projects that can drive big benefits in the bush. This program is helping to deliver better journeys on the roads families use every day and support the domestic tourism,” Mr Toole said.
“These projects won’t just ensure that locals see the benefits of this investment every time they get behind the wheel, they’re also supporting an additional 1,374 jobs throughout construction across regional NSW.”
Fixing Local Roads is a $500 million NSW Government program, which was boosted by the Australian Government over the first two rounds with an additional $191 million.
Further information about the Fixing Local Roads Program can be found at nswroads.work/fixinglocalroads.