MP Adam Marshall calls for a community meeting update on Kempsey Road works

Member for Northern Tablelands and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said the continued application of the arbitrary load limit was impeding the ability of local primary producers to go about their routine business and transport stock to and from market.

"The load limit is preventing many farmers along Kempsey Road and around the Lower Creek area talking advantage of improved seasonal conditions on the ground and continued strong stock prices," Mr Marshall said.

"They simply cannot get their stock off their properties and transport them out efficiently while ever the load limit is in place, let along begin re-stocking their properties to take advantage of feed availability at the moment."

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Having driven the sometimes precarious road multiple times in the last few months, Mr Marshall said he understood council's requirement, as the local road authority, to ensure safety for all road users, however, maintaining the load limit for locals, when the road was now quite useable, was an unnecessary burden on local primary production businesses which have had a horrendous 18 months through two disasters - drought and bushfires.

"Now is the time those producers are looking to get back on their feet, cashing in on good seasonal conditions and strong livestock market prices," he said.

"We cannot afford to see these people unnecessarily suffer further.

"I have written to council's new general manager requesting an urgent review and lifting of the load limit to allow farmers along Kempsey Road and around Lower Creek to transport stock onto and off their properties to market."

The Express contacted Armidale Regional Council for comment and was told all enquiries regarding Kempsey Road should be directed to Transport for NSW.

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said councils are responsible for load limits on roads under their care and control.

"Armidale-Kempsey Road is a local road under the care and control of Armidale and Kempsey Councils within their respective areas," they said.

"Armidale-Kempsey Road is currently only open to light four-wheel-drives within the Armidale LGA, with work underway to enable the weight limit to be increased.

"The section of road in the Kempsey Shire LGA is open for general access, with a lane restriction in place at the site of a recent rock fall east of Bellbrook."

The appeal by the Northern Tablelands MP came one week after a local community group accused Mr Marshall of no-showing to a scheduled meeting with them in Lower Creek.

Mr Marshall said he would be convening a community meeting at Lower Creek next month and inviting Armidale Regional Council, Transport for NSW and Regional Roads and Transport Minister Paul Toole to discuss and update the local community on the progress of the remediation of the road, spending of previously awarded grant funds for upgrading the road and the reclassification of the road.

"I've received multiple request from individuals to meet onsite and discuss their concerns about progress on the road upgrades and transferring to road back into State Government hands, as per the commitment at the last election," he said.

"There're also a lot of rumours and misinformation floating around and a meeting where everyone is present is the best way to clear the air and provide accurate information to locals and answer all of their questions too.

"I'm keen to hear about the $4.6 million upgrade works plans and progress and also to keep the government to its word on the reclassification, which is crucial to the longer-term improvement of this important road.

"I'll be finalising a date shortly and issuing invitations to locals, council, the Minister and government agencies."

Armidale-Kempsey Road was impacted by bushfires at the end of 2019, flooding early in 2020 and two further natural disaster events in late 2020 and early 2021, each causing full or partial closures.

Transport for NSW said it had been working closely with both Armidale and Kempsey councils to 'assist them to reinstate the corridor to pre-disaster condition' and is also 'aiming to increase the corridor's resilience against future natural disasters'.

"Funding to bring the road back to pre-disaster condition is being provided through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements," they said.

"Transport for NSW has also provided a project manager to assist Armidale Council in developing and implementing its recovery response.

"Transport for NSW acknowledges the road closures associated with these natural disasters have impacted the communities of Lower Creek and Bellbrook and is working with Armidale and Kempsey Shire LGAs to get the work completed as quickly as possible, while considering the safety of all road users."