Calls to help Northern Rivers councils ‘saddled with multimillion-dollar’ road repairs

“Our government needs to step up and fund better roads”: Lismore’s MP has expressed growing frustration over the government’s inaction on road damage.

FIXING ROADS: Janelle Saffin called upon NSW government to fund significant road repairs across the region.

Lismore’s MP has asked the government to pick up the ball on the Northern Rivers’ dismal road infrastructure.

In NSW parliament last week, Lismore MP Janelle Saffin tabled a motion condemning inaction on local potholes and damages.

“I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move that this house notes that flooding and torrential rain events this year have severely damaged roads on the Northern Rivers and Northern tablelands saddling local councils with multimillion-dollar repair bills,” she said.

“(The motion) calls on the NSW government to significantly increase funding to maintain and upgrade these roads, particularly regional roads in the two regions and across rural and regional NSW.”

In an accompanying Facebook post, Ms Saffin stressed the need for better roads to support the Northern Rivers economy.

“As I drive around the electorate after the recent rains it is clear our roads need investment and action from the state government, not just passing the buck to councils,” she wrote.

“Our businesses, truckies, farmers, families and all road users need to have decent, reliable roads to drive on and our government needs to step up and fund better roads.

“As your representative in the NSW parliament I will continue to stand up for our community and our roads.”

It comes a Lismore City Council Director of Infrastructure Services Peter Jeuken recently said Lismore roads were “in danger of falling into the very poor, or poor level” if not funded.