Road workers needed as pothole repairs lead to major project delays

Emergency repairs to roads and bridges damaged in NSW’s recent flood events have forced workers to be diverted from major projects. Now the race is on to fill the vacant spots.

The NSW government has embarked on a last minute hiring spree to pick up the slack in major regional road projects as workers are diverted to emergency flood repairs.

Since February, 135,000 potholes have been filled across regional NSW, but resources have been taken away from major projects, including the Great Western Hwy and Newell Hwy upgrades.

With most of the $312.5m Betterment fund going to emergency repairs, the government is scrambling to fill 80 positions left vacant in major projects to stave off delays.

The new positions will be targeted to locals in Orange, Dubbo, Bowenfels and Parkes in the Central West, Coonabarabran, Narrabri and Moree in the North and Broken Hill in the Far West.

“The recent rain has wreaked havoc on our road network and our priority has been to repair these roads as quickly as possible by redirecting teams working on some of our major projects to assist with disaster repairs,” Regional Transport Minister Sam Farraway said.

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Sam Farraway (left) with Transport Minister David Elliott (right). Picture: Gaye Gerard

“With a substantial number of works happening all over the state and in particular in the western region, we are strengthening our workforce to ensure our projects remain on track.

“We are taking steps to ensure that these communities benefit by engaging as many local contractors as possible, and the influx of workers converging to construct these legacy projects bring value to the local economies.”

During the major flood disaster of February this year more than 2100km of road was damaged and more than 100 bridges were left in need of urgent repair.

Massive new potholes popped up across the state after months of rain and flooding. Picture: Tim Hunter

Meanwhile, 45 bridges around NSW are still waiting to be repaired as ongoing and further predicted rainfall causes more havoc for repair crews.

Pothole call-outs in NSW were up 85 per cent in NSW, according to the NRMA, with a whopping $1.5bn estimated as the cost of repairing state, regional and local roads.

The government is hoping to avoid more delays to major projects as the New Intercity Fleet of trains, which were meant to be rolled out to Sydney’s rail network, sit unused in storage.

Costing taxpayers $30m a month, the rail unions refuse to operate the trains until their safety and pay demands are met.

Earlier this year, the government also conceded projects including the Beaches Link and the Blue Mountains Tunnel would need to be put on the backburner while the government focused on more cost effective, high return projects including the Parramatta Light Rail.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]