Coffs Harbour to share in half-billion dollar NSW road fix plan
Potholes in Coffs have been a barbecue-stopper talking point for months. See why there’s fresh hope the council will finally get on top of the challenge.
Coffs Harbour
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Funding to fix Coffs Harbour roads is set for a turbo boost on the back of a half-billion dollar cash splash to tackle the state’s potholes.
Fears that the puckered pavement in Coffs might be in line only for crumbs in the latest funding round have been shot down by Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh, who is confident the city will benefit.
Premier Dominic Perrottet has pledged a $500 million kitty for councils to fast-track repairs to potholes caused by flooding.
Coffs Harbour mayor Paul Amos suspects councils in western NSW – which has been hard hit by a slow moving water mass – would be prioritised.
“I don’t think we have been affected as badly – out there they have lost (entire) roads,” he said.
Mr Singh said the City of Coffs Harbour should apply for funding in the latest round.
Coffs secured $305,000 from the $50m first round of grants.
“Coffs was successful in getting a good chunk of money in the last round and I see no reason why they wouldn’t be successful again,” he said.
“It’s 10 times the amount (the latest round) so I expect a bump up on what they got last time.”
Mr Perrottet and deputy premier Paul Toole will announce the funding today in the central west, with about $280m expected to go to regional councils and another $220m in Greater Sydney.
The money will be in council coffers within weeks so work can begin early this year.
Mr Singh said the money will be allocated based on a formula which factors in how many kilometres of roadway each council is responsible for.
“The plan is to get the money out the door quickly,” the Coffs Harbour MP said.
Mr Perrottet said the government recognised potholes were “a major hazard” to community safety.
“We have listened to councils and we understand the pressure they are under from many months of wet weather,” he said.
“This funding boost will help councils continue the huge job of bringing roads back up to scratch to keep our state moving.”
Coffs Harbour roads – along with those in the neighbouring council areas of Bellingen, Clarence Valley and Nambucca – resembled craters by the sea after weeks of pounding rain and localised flooding early last year.
Potholes were here, there and everywhere – and some of them were doozies.
Motorists took to social media to rage; council crews burned the midnight oil to patch the holes, and local tyre shops were run off their rims.
“It’s been out of control,” Bob Jane T-Marts Coffs Harbour manager Jesse Dunn remarked in April.
“We’ve had tilt trays after tilt trays coming in with cars that can’t be driven with smashed wheels, or where they don’t have spares (tyres).”
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