$1.976 million worth of road funding was announced at the Uralla Shire Council Chambers on Monday morning, which, when matched by $800,000 from council, will widen and bitumen seal the remaining 8.4 kilometre stretch of Bingara Road, between Bundarra and Copeton Dam and Bingara.
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“It’s a great day it is,” Mayor Michael Pearce declared.
“Nearly $2 million, that’s fantastic for us. Council put up about $800,000 from our Roads To Recovery funding. The road will now be a General Mass Limit to cater for heavy vehicles.
“It’s a widely used road, not just by locals but by tourists who like to pop down to Copeton Dam.”
Cr Pearce said the road was part of the Namoi JO road map plan, so fitted into their jurisdiction as well as Uralla shire’s.
“It’s really showing how neighbouring councils and Joint Organisations can work together as a team,” he said.
In announcing the funding local Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said the funding was from the NSW Fixing Country Roads program, and the project was important for three main reasons:
“One, it’s becoming a very busy tourist route. A lot of people are going out to Copeton Dam that way,” he said.
“Secondly, it’s important for local residents in the area, particularly farmers because it means they’ve got all weather access.
“Thirdly, having that road sealed means it will be B-Double rated, which will shave 50 kilometres off the heavy vehicle freight route and save everyone thousands of dollars each year.”
The works will also replace existing low-level bridges and culverts and provide all-weather access for larger heavy vehicles and providing an alternate access road between Thunderbolt and Fossicker Way through to the Gwydir Highway.
