Council hoping for roads and youth help in Budget

CLARENCE Valley Council’s bean counters will comb through tonight’s Federal Budget announcement for any sign of help for the region’s ruinous road network.

CLARENCE Valley Council's bean counters will comb through tonight's Federal Budget announcement for any sign of help for the region's ruinous road network.

The NRMA last week revealed the Clarence had a $224 million backlog of unfunded road repairs and upgrades - the state's second-largest shortfall, behind Port Macquarie's $225.1 million deficit.

Mayor Richie Williamson roads were the chief area in which his council desperately needed Commonwealth assistance.

"Any increased funding to the Roads to Recovery program will be very welcome," he said.

"All councils are struggling with that at the moment, and we certainly have one of the biggest problems in the state."

Cr Williamson said bored youths acting out with antisocial behaviour had become too big an issue for the region - and the government - to ignore.

"Any funding around youth activities would be particularly welcomed in the Clarence Valley," he said.

"And that goes hand in hand with crime prevention programs the Federal Government may be able to fund."

It will be a wait-and-see situation for the mayor, who is currently in the throes of another gruelling budget process.

"We're working through a fairly intense budget of our own," Cr Williamson said.

The Federal Budget will be released later tonight.

Originally published as Council hoping for roads and youth help in Budget