$160 million for disaster road repair

FIVE Northern Rivers councils have received over $160 million in new state and federal funding for road and transport infrastructure repairs.

The councils of Lismore City, Tweed Shire, Byron Shire, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley were among the first in NSW to sign a pilot funding agreement with the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Transport for NSW to streamline disaster recovery funds distribution.

Councils of this region know the financial burden well of being slugged with hefty infrastructure repairs while waiting to be reimbursed. The newly established Tripartite Agreements signed earlier this year allow local government to access advance funding at each reconstruction phase. The agreements aim to reduce financial pressure on councils, repair roads more quickly and improve government agency collaboration.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said it was a great example of the government working with communities to develop new solutions.

“We are committed to building on the success of these agreements and rolling out more support to help communities rebuild faster after disasters,” Dib said.

The council funding boost comprises $54.1 million for Lismore City, $50.6 million for Clarence Valley, $29.6 million for Tweed Shire, $15.7 million for Byron Shire, and $10.4 million for Richmond Valley.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said that councils had struggled too long.

“The Tripartite Agreements have been a huge success as Transport for NSW could deliver $296 million of recovery funding into councils’ bank accounts in the last three months. Before the 2022 disasters, a normal budget would have approximately $190 million,” Aitchison said.

“With the $3.3 billion allocated over the next four years for disaster road recovery, we will roll out funding faster than ever. Regional communities can rebuild roads and restore vital transport links more quickly.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said it was a significant advance in disaster recovery and paved the way to better procedural preparedness.

“As Parliamentary Secretary, I interact closely with most of these councils, so I know what a difference it is making and will continue to make,” Saffin said.

“I commend the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Transport for NSW for leading this new way of rebuilding roads and transport infrastructure.”