ARMIDALE Dumaresq councillors are trying to jettison control of a stretch of road costing $350,000 a year.
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The Armidale-Kempsey Road was gradually handed over to Armidale Dumaresq Council between 2009 and 2011 following a state government review.
The 66-kilometre stretch frequently suffers rain damage and landslides, costing Council hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to maintain.
Cr Jenny Bailey said the road’s expense was a major problem for Council.
“We're faced with having to maintain a road in a very bad condition, one that is the main route between the tablelands and that part of the coast,” she said.
“It's in an area of high rainfall, which means we constantly need to deal with washaways and other issues.”
Cr Bailey said the byelection campaign was the perfect time for Council to raise the issue with the state government.
“The Deputy Premier's electorate takes up about half of this road and that could hopefully give us a bit of leverage,” she said.
The plan has been backed by mayor Jim Maher, who said Council objected to taking responsibility of the road from the outset.
“Our council just doesn't have the resources to maintain that road and bring it up to the level that it deserves,” he said.
“The state is in a better position to maintain what is a core arterial road.”
Cr Maher is trying to arrange a meeting consisting of representatives from Kempsey and Bellingen councils, as well as residents of towns along the road such as Wollomombi and Bellbrook.
In order to return the road to state control, it must be considered a significant route for freight or an access point for tourist areas.
Council's director of engineering and works, David Stellar, said the road was originally reclassified because it was not used for industrial purposes.
“It needed to be of economic significance for the region to carry on as a state road, but most of the area is national park and farmland, so there aren't many trucks passing through,” he said.
Nationals candidate for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall gave his in-principle support for the plan.
But he said he would only raise concerns about the road if it was supported by a joint meeting of the affected councils.
“Once they've formed a position and joint proposal, I'd be happy to pass it on to the state government,” he said.
Labor candidate Herman Beyersdorf was more supportive of the plan and said better maintenance of the road could produce benefits for the whole region.
