Cobar was one of five councils to share in over $30million in roads funding announced by the State Government on Friday.
Cobar Shire will receive $1million in funding which will see 11.8 kilometres of gravel between two sealed sections of the Grain Road (in the south of the shire) upgraded.
Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries joined Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey on Friday in Narrabri to announce the $31.8million funding as part of the Fixing Country Roads program.
Cobar Shire Council deputy mayor Peter Abbott and director of engineering services Stephen Taylor were present for the announcement.
Mr Humphries said better regional roads leads to stronger local economies, stronger employment opportunities and ultimately stronger communities.
“We are committed to providing high quality service to our regional customers and are getting on with the job of providing improvements and upgrades across our freight transport networks,” he said.
For Cobar, the project will join the two sealed sections together and ensure the last 33km of the Grain Road, which supports the greatest freight loads, will be sealed.
Other projects to receive funding included $21.3million to Brewarrina Shire Council for the Goodooga Road works; $1.9million the Coonamble Shire and Warren Shire Councils to upgrade the Warren Road; $5.4million for Walgett Shire Council’s Bugilbone Road, and $2million for Narrabri Shire Council to upgrade the Pilliga Road to Wee Waa Road.
Mr Barilaro said he was excited to continue investment in both regional infrastructure and country NSW.
“It’s more than a road, it’s more than a train line, it’s about making sure that primary producers earn more money for their clean, green produce and small businesses continue to employ people in regional areas,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Barwon is the largest electoral district in the state, covering 44 per cent of the land mass of NSW.
“So to be able to deliver practical and cost effective improvements to major roads means that our farmers are safer on the roads, spending less time in transit, and more produce is being delivered to ports,” he said.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said these infrastructure improvements would allow further growth in grain production, which has already doubled in the past 10 years.
The funding for these five projects was additional funding to the Fixing Country Roads program to help facilitate priority projects.
