An important piece of infrastructure in the Wellington district has been given the go ahead. The Gundy bridge replacement on the Renshaw McGirr Way is going ahead.
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Member for Dubbo & Deputy Premier Troy Grant says the Gundy bridge is among three major local projects which will soon be underway with a $3.2 million investment under Round Two of the NSW Governments Fixing Country Roads Program.
“The Gundy Creek Bridge on the Renshaw McGirr Way is being upgraded and the funding for the Dubbo electorate will also allow level 3 inspections and load ratings for 42 bridges in the Narromine Shire.
Mr Grant said the Fixing Country Roads Initiative aims to alleviate freight pinch points and improve road safety across regional NSW.
Round Two of Fixing Country Roads includes a $50 million investment in the upcoming 2016/17 State Budget, and is ‘on top’ of the $43 million commitment in Round One.
“Successful projects will better connect local and regional roads to state highways and key freight hubs, such as silos, saleyards, rail heads, supermarket distribution centres, industrial parks and depots,” Mr Grant said.
“The NSW Government is investing historic levels of funding to build better infrastructure right across NSW, and it’s great to see local communities in the Dubbo electorate benefitting from programs like Fixing Country Roads.
“260 million tonnes of freight are moved across regional NSW each year – improving the way we do this is vital to supporting continued growth across the state.
“I am pleased that Purvis Lane in Dubbo will be upgraded as part of this funding. Purvis Lane currently carries over 3,700 vehicles daily and Western Plains Regional Council project that this volume will increase,” Mr Grant said.
“Upgrading this road between Merrygoen Rail line and Yarrandale road will result in reduced travel times for vehicles entering Dubbo from the west along the Mitchell Highway.
The benefits of round One of Fixing Country Roads are already being realised with about 75 percent of projects either completed or nearing completion.
Mr Grant said the replacement of Dripstone Bridge on Burrendong Way removes a ten tonne load limit on an important livestock freight route eliminating detours of up to 40km.
Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay said there is no other program in the history of the state that delivers benefits to councils, local businesses, communities and regional industries quite like Fixing Country Roads.
“By building better infrastructure on council owned roads and bridges – we are getting product to market quicker – cutting costs right across the supply chain including on supermarket shelves.”
Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said projects like Fixing Country Roads are critical to supporting local economies and the State.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure to ensure regional New South Wales can continue to thrive.”
The $50 million Round Two instalment is part of a $500 million commitment for Fixing Country Roads from Rebuilding NSW, with funding to be progressively made available by the NSW Government.
All Fixing Country Roads funding allocations are determined by an expert Independent Assessment Panel, including Local Government NSW, Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association, NSW Farmers, NRMA. Projects not selected by the Panel in this round may be able to access funding in future rounds.
