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Question and Answer Tracking Details

253 - Regional Transport and Roads - REGIONAL ROAD FUNDING

Farraway, Sam to the Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Minister for Roads, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy representing the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
REGIONAL ROAD FUNDING

(1) Given the Minister said emergency road repairs were a cost-of-living issue, can the Minister detail how much additional funding on top of the $280 million provided through the Regional and Local Roads Repair Program by the former Government in January has been provided to regional councils since the election?

(2) Can the Minister confirm if all regional councils have received the additional funding?

(3) Can the Minister detail how many potholes have been fixed by the additional funding in regional New South Wales?

(4) Is there a deadline of when councils must use the funding by?

(5) Will the Minister add road repairs and road maintenance to the Infrastructure Australia Priority List as the South Australian Government have done?

(6) Has the Minister received any briefings on Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package?

(7) Has the Minister met with the Federal Government in regard to Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package?

(8) Has the Minister written to her federal counterpart asking for federal assistance for emergency road repairs?

(9) Has the Minister written to her federal counterpart to request federal investment into the Betterment Program?

(10) Has the Minister written to her federal counterpart specifically requesting funding for round two of the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package?

(11) Will the Minister commit to additional funding for the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package?

(a) If not, why not?

(12) Has the Minister met with Mayors of flood impact communities?

(a) If so when?

(i) Which Mayors?

(13) Has the Minister received any correspondence from Mayors of flood impacted communities supporting the continuation and further investment into the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package?
Answer -

I am advised

(1) to (4)

As shown in the Parliamentary Budget Office documents, C1485 - Costing- $1 billion to build better bush roads and rail.pdf (nsw.gov.au). the former NSW Liberals and Nationals Government did not commit any new funding to road maintenance funding until the 2024-25 financial year. The NSW Government committed to create a $670 million Emergency Road Repair Fund, incorporating the $280 million from the former Government's Regional and Local Roads Repair Program (RLRRP). The Labor Government's commitment adds an additional $390 million in funding to regional Councils over the next two years.

This was to address the gross inequity of the NSW Liberals and Nationals funding under the RLRRP which equated to approximately $1823 per kilometre going to regional councils, compared to approximately $10,814 per kilometre for metropolitan councils (593 per cent higher).

Under the NSW Labor Government's Emergency Road Repair Fund, regional councils will receive an additional approximately $2,474 per kilometre, giving a total amount of $4,297 per kilometre to regional councils.

The NSW Government is currently working with regional councils across the state on the framework for this program with details to be provided in the coming months. This consultative approach will ensure Councils have the capacity to complete the works in a timely and efficient manner for their local communities.

(5) The Australian Government has commenced a 90-day independent review of the Infrastructure Investment Program, this will review the projects in the infrastructure pipeline. I note that the former NSW Liberal-National Government did not include road maintenance to the Infrastructure Australia Priority List as the South Australian Government have done.

(6) I have been briefed on a plethora of issues including the $7 billion budget blackhole left by the former Liberal-National Government and the abysmal state of road maintenance left by the former Minister for Regional Transport and Roads.

(7) to (13)

I communicate with my federal counterparts as well as state and local government representatives across a range of issues on a regular basis. This includes programs to address the abysmal state of road maintenance left by the former Minister for Regional Transport and Roads. My diary disclosures are made public in accordance with the Ministerial Code of Conduct via the Department of Premier and Cabinet website.

Question asked on 7 June 2023 (session 58-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 22
Answer received on 29 June 2023 and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 37

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.