NSW floods: Hawkesbury, Hills and Hornsby mayors demand road repair funds from state and federal government

Mayors on Sydney’s peripheries are demanding urgent funding to repair roads and potholes, calling on the government to “to listen to us — not just when the water has risen”. See the staggering costs.

Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi, Hornsby Shire Mayor Philip Ruddock and Hawkesbury City Council Mayor Sarah McMahon at Thompsons Sq, Windsor on November 22, 2022

As a seemingly never-ending series of flood, rain, and disasters hit NSW, local councils on the outskirts of Sydney’s metropolitan area have demanded a funding increase to match their regional counterparts, after spending millions more on road repair than they had budgeted for.

Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi, Hornsby Shire Mayor Philip Ruddock and Hawkesbury City Council Mayor Sarah McMahon stood united at Thompsons Sq, Windsor today — the same place where SES boats were desperately rescuing stranded residents during the floods — to launch their joint demand.

They want the NSW and Federal Government to start a road repair scheme for metropolitan councils, and said it was outside the scope of local government to fix all the road networks and potholes which had been battered over the previous years.

The costs are staggering: Hornsby Shire Council, with a yearly budget of $3.2m to fix roads, has estimated a further $3m-$5m will be needed to address road failures resulting from this year’s weather events.

A spokeswoman from the council said it will have used up all its funds by Christmas, less than halfway through the financial year.

Mayor Gangemi, Mayor Ruddock and Mayor McMahon addressing the need for road repair funding in Windsor.

Wollondilly Shire Council claims to have spent close to $30 million on natural disaster repairs over the previous two years.

Hawkesbury Council expects to spend $1m just on potholes this year — the same amount it would normally spend in three or more.

In the two months between mid-July and mid-September the council filled 7,400 potholes, costing $160k, and expects the costs to rise. That does not include the $240 million in flood-related repairs and other routine upgrade and maintenance council is also managing.

Emergency Services personnel standing near the edge of the flooded Windsor Bridge in July 2022. Picture: James Gourley.

Mayor McMahon pointed to the Hawkesbury River behind her and noted the six floods her region has endured over the past few years.

“We want the government to listen to us,” she said. “Not just when the water has risen but right now when we are in the recovery phase.”

“We know they are suffering out west in regional NSW right now with the floods. But what they will endure is what we are enduring now — and that’s the recovery phase.”

Mayor Ruddock joined the call saying the unprecedented wet weather has had a significant impact on all councils at Sydney’s peripheries.

Properties along the Hawkesbury river at Windsor damaged by flood waters in July 2022. Picture: John Grainger.

“(Hornsby Council) seeks assistance because we are broke,” Mayor Ruddock said. “We are a council that is likely to go into deficit … and we’ve spent already $3.5 million in repairing potholes of Hornsby.”

“We know we need to find something immediately in the order of three to five million dollars.”

Mayor Gangemi added parts of this state have received more rainfall than any year on record and the Hills Shire has endured three major floods in the last two years.

“A few weeks ago Sam Farraway, the state Minister regional roads, announced $50 million dollars for the fixing local roads pothole repair program,” Mayor Gangemi said. “But it only covered 95 rural and regional councils.

“We require additional support … and that’s why we’re calling for a metropolitan road repair program to be able to give our communities the standards of roads they deserve.”

The demand for urgent funding is spreading to other councils on the outskirts of Sydney, including Wollondilly Shire Mayor Matt Gould and Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss.

“The severe wet weather experienced throughout the year has had a devastating impact on some of our busiest roads and continues to place significant strain on our maintenance program,” Mayor Greiss said.

“Already this year, our teams have filled double the number of potholes than in 2021 and this number is rising.”