MIDCOAST Council plans to spend more than $68 million on roads this year.
Despite the eye watering number, Deputy Mayor Jeremy Miller says 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,” Cr Miller said.
This year has seen an additional $6.7 million allocated to roads, bringing the total to $68.47 million, after a review of costs and a number of cuts.
Cr Miller said the “decades of neglect” that have 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.
He 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 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.
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