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Lower Creek residents and members of Lower Creek Local Area Committee (LCLAC) met with Members of Armidale Regional Council and the Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall on Sunday morning to hear a $4.6 million funding announcement for road work either side of White Bluff on the Kempsey Road. In announcing the funding, Mr Marshall said two things were needed for the road. "Across this whole region there were 34 other roads that were also "gifted" to the various councils. "So, first we need to reverse the stupid decision made in 2008, and give the road back to the state government. Then there can be some serious money poured into it over three or four years, not only to widen and stabilise it, but seal it the whole way through. If the government is re-elected in this state election, with no review, this road will be taken back over by the state government and reclassified as a regional road." ALSO READ:  "Secondly, we need an immediate injection of money to do some work right now to make the White Bluff area a lot safer." Mr Marshall said Sunday's $4.6 million was that immediate grant. It would allow Armidale council to widen and stabilise 14.4 kilometres of the road, with White Bluff in the middle of the road works. "Essentially, it will be seven kilometres either side," he said. He said the funding was the first in at least three stages of a four year, $16 million project that he said council was already working towards, with the next two stages already submitted to government for consideration. Armidale Mayor Simon Murray confirmed the funding was the first stage of the joint Armidale - Kempsey application submitted last year. "There were a number of stages in that. There was the Big Hill here, which was $4.6 million, there's Blackbird Flat, Flying Fox and then a section in the Kempsey Shire," he said. "Those others haven't been assessed by the government yet, but his one had been and that's why Adam could make the announcement," he said. Cr Murray said should Kempsey Road be reclassified as a regional road, it would ease the burden of road spending significantly. "So, when you look at that, if the cost is taken off council because it becomes a regional road, some of that money can stay here to try to make more improvements, but then offset all the other work that needs to be done in the regional area. "But don't forget, we have a lot of windstorms here and a lot of trees come across the road. They're not planned, and we will still have to cover those costs." Cr Libby Martin thought the Wollomombi community would be thrilled with the announcement. "They fought tooth and nail years ago to stop the de-classification when they changed it from a regional road to a council road. So, they are going to be really, really excited to hear this. It is really good news," she said. "It's particularly a win for us because council can spend its money on other roads that also need some work done on them." Chair of LCLAC Morgan Thompson said he thought Sunday's announcement was sensational, for all the locals, tourists and business operators that came through Lower Creek. "Land values will go up - when it's done - but that's a given because we will have access to vehicles and be able to get our produce to market. And it will be a tourist route as well," Morgan said. "Cannot wait to have it finished. I travel the road quite a bit with my normal daily work. I live halfway along the road here and it'll be unreal when it's done. Not so many flat tyres." 

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