I am advised

Fixing Country Roads is a $543 million Restart NSW funded program for freight investments that will improve freight capacity, access and efficiency of the regional road network.

Regional councils apply to repair and upgrade local and regional roads to improve the movement of freight to key freight hubs and state roads. Applications for truck wash projects can also be made through Fixing Country Roads.

Projects funded through the program include strengthening, widening, or building roads, bridges or culverts, building heavy vehicle rest areas and truck wash facilities, and upgrades to improve the flood resilience of the network.

Under the former Liberals and Nationals Government, $80.3 million was removed from the program in 2019 by then Deputy Premier John Barilaro and the then Regional Transport and Roads Minister Paul Toole.

After significant pressure from the then Labor Opposition, the money was finally restored to the program in late 2022.

Prior to the 2023 election the former Minister for Regional Transport and Roads now Shadow Minister advised numerous stakeholders in public forums that he had reallocated the funding, but the funding deeds were never signed prior to the removal of the former Liberals and Nationals from Government.

The funding deed for this project is administered by Infrastructure NSW, so it is unclear how the former Minister could have claimed that the funds were confirmed as he was not the signing authority for the program.

Of course as a long term advocate for restoration of these funds, I continue to work with the Treasurer and his office to maximise funding for roads and transport projects across NSW.Parkes Shire Council proposed upgrade involves the construction of a new bridge at Graddle Creek to remove the low-level causeway, as well as road realignment either side of the bridge to eliminate the tight corner where the causeway is located.