IF elected on March 25, NSW Labor have pledged to contribute over $10 million for urgent road upgrades and emergency road repairs across Port Stephens

Labor’s $10 million road upgrade package is to start detailed planning and early works on a number of roads projects across Port Stephens including Fairlands Rd, Medowie, Italia Rd, East Seaham, Tomaree Road, Shoal Bay and Rookes Rd, Salt Ash.

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Labor will also provide $1.8 million through Labor’s new Emergency Road Repairs Fund to address the road maintenance backlog.

Labor has also promised to provide more than $1.8 million in additional road funding to Port Stephens Council (and $8.9 million to MidCoast Council that covers the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest area) from the Emergency Road Repairs Fund, in addition to the funding included in the Government’s pothole funding announcement from earlier this year.

“Labor’s commitment of over $10 million towards roads in Port Stephens will be welcome news for our community and Council,” Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington said.

“Residents are fed up with the state of our local roads and sick of damaging their cars.”

Road funding has been a hot issue in the lead up to the election with the NSW Government contributing funds to the region in early February 2023.

“Port Stephens Council is receiving $1,333,225 from the NSW Government’s $500 million Regional and Local Roads Repair Program,” Port Stephens Council’s Greg Kable said.

“Despite this grant, more funding is always needed to maintain our roads to the standard we’d like.

“We’re always applying for grants from the State and Federal Governments to replace and rehabilitate roads that really need it.

“To fix a pothole properly, we need to rehabilitate the road,” Mr Kable said.

Slater and Gordon Roads Associate Emma Bussoletti said reporting an unsafe road to the council or State Government department could potentially help prove the local or State Government was at fault following an accident, especially if the hazard was known to authorities but no action was taken.

“Many of the injured road users we hear from seeking legal support have been involved in accidents involving poorly maintained road surfaces such as potholes,” Ms Bussoletti said.

“A lack of road maintenance can create significant hazards for motorists and can result in avoidable crashes involving injuries and event fatalities.

“Motorists should report any road maintenance hazards to the appropriate authority, depending on who manages the road, at the earliest opportunity.

“Heavy rain has resulted in billions of dollars’ worth of damage and it’s likely we will see the tragic consequences of this with a potential rise in avoidable accidents on our roads.

“In some regional and rural areas, roads have just about been washed away.

“In speaking out about our local road issues, we can hopefully get damaged roads assessed and re-surfacing can take place as quickly as possible,” Ms Bussoletti said.

By Marian SAMPSON