HAVE YOUR SAY – NSW ROAD CLASSIFICATION REVIEW

Published on 07 September 2020

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is undertaking a review of road classifications in NSW and is calling for submissions from local government by the end of September 2020. An Independent Panel has been appointed and the review is now in the consultation phase with a report expected from the Panel by 2021.

To help inform Council’s submission, we are inviting the community to Have Your Say through our online feedback form and through face to face sessions at the GIL next Thursday, 17 September at 7.30am and 5.30pm.

Gilgandra Shire Council’s General Manager, David Neeves says the Roads Classification review involves the potential transfer of up to 15,000 km of council owned and managed roads to State management.

“Council staff recently participated in workshops to understand the process and potential implications of reclassifying roads and the matter was also considered Council’s ordinary meeting held in August. Where several roads within the Gilgandra Shire were identified as potentially being worthy of consideration for reclassification.”

Adding,

“Some roads like the Eumungerie–Narromine Road are maintained by Council but funded by the State, with there now an opportunity to suggest this road is managed and maintained by the one authority, given it connects heavy vehicles from Eumungerie to Tomingley”, said Mr Neeves.

Hargraves Lane is a Regional Road, however Federation Street is currently a different classification. These roads have both experienced an increase in heavy vehicle traffic particularly during harvest and also in preparation for the construction of the inland rail. The reclassification review provides an opportunity to have both roads classified the same and attract similar funding.

Miller Street is a State Highway funded by the State meaning TfNSW approval is required to close the road and hold events such as Anzac Day or Winter Wonderland. Council also does not have the authority to restrict wide or oversize loads from using the CBD. Transferring this to a Local Road classification has some potential community benefits however we are interested in community and business feedback to help inform Council’s submission to the Independent Panel.

With the funding announcement last year by the Federal Government that the Coonamble – Tooraweenah Road would be sealed, there is also an opportunity to propose the unsealed section of National Park Road and the Tooraweenah to Mendooran Rd be also sealed and for this entire section to be reclassified as a Regional Road. The benefits would be to improve the road from Mendooran to Tooraweenah providing better connectivity to Tooraweenah and the Warrumbungle National Park.

The State Government have extended the consultation period to allow Council time to seek community input and adjoining Councils to form a united position on roads that span two or more LGAs.

Council has identified a number of roads to be considered as part of the consultation process, and we are now seeking community input to assist finalisation of Council’s submission: 

  • Hargraves Lane and Federation Streets for consideration to be reclassified as part of the State Road network.
  • Federation Street for consideration to be reclassified as a Regional Road if Hargraves Lane and Federation Streets do not satisfy the criteria for reclassification as State Roads.
  • The section of Eumungerie Road under Gilgandra Shire’s control for reclassification as a State Road.
  • Tooraweenah Road for consideration to be reclassified as a Regional Road.
  • National Park Road in its entirety for consideration to be reclassified as a regional road.
  • Consider declassification of Miller Street to a local road in Round 2 of the Classification Review.

“The process is not about changing the use of the roads, its more about the accessibility to funding and the responsibility of who maintains the roads. Local government is currently responsible for about 90% of the state’s road network, with funding provided through a variety of Commonwealth and State programs as well as Council’s own funding streams”, said Mr Neeves.

Adding,

“Reclassifying Local Roads as Regional also means additional funding can be attracted to spend on these roads, including being eligible for Repair Grant funding which is funding for capital upgrades and is contestable each year and funded on a dollar for dollar basis.”

Council is inviting community input to help inform Council’s submission for the review. Written feedback can be provided through Council’s website https://www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Connect/Have-your-say, or by calling Council.

Please contact Council’s Marketing and Communications team on 6817 8800 to RSVP your attendance to the community sessions at the GIL, next Thursday, 17 September.

Community feedback is invited until 5pm, Tuesday 22 September 2020.

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Contact:        

Kathryn Larkin
Manager Marketing and Communications
6817 8800

                        

 

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