NSWLG has said the state government appointed panel of Wendy Machin, Peter Duncan, Jillian Kilby, John Roydhouse, Michael Kilgariff and Peter Tegart, will identify about 15,000 kilometres of council-managed roads in regional areas to be hand back to the government. So, will that include Kempsey Road?
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Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray said he was waiting for the panel to be appointed.
"In listening to the Minister for Roads last year at a meeting, this panel was talked about," he said.
"There's 15,000 kilometres in total, and I think there was about 7,500 kilometres of roads that were once regional roads and transferred to local roads.
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"The present government, when they were running for election, made the commitment that they would all be transferred back to regional road status, including Kempsey Road. That left an additional 7,500 kilometres of of roads that councils could apply to have taken over by government."
Cr Murray expected Kempsey Road to be among the first handed back to the state government.
"All this regional roads status does is to allow us to apply for funding from a different place, and the amount of funding is consequently better," he said.
"It is a difficult road, but we'll do the best we can with it."
NSWLG president Cr Linda Scott described the roads as one of the most significant problems facing councils.
"In 2018/19, about $820 million was cost-shifted to NSW councils, part of a burden estimated at $6.2 billion over 10 years," she said.
"Councils must be consulted as the independent panel formulates its advice on which roads should be given to the state and how to prioritise each one."
Former Young mayor and now NSW Shadow Minister for Rural Roads, Mick Veitch said the process needed to be done correctly.
He was concerned the government would only take responsibility of low-maintenance roads, while also cutting council funds to uphold the remaining roads.
"There is a real risk councils could end up further disadvantaged as a result of this, leaving them with high-cost roads and less funding to maintain them," Mr Veitch said.
"This is a big task, and it is critical it's done well, and with council's interest at the heart of it.
"I am really worried that this won't happen, and this is actually a ploy to slash vital maintenance funding to councils to save some money."
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