NSW state Member for Murray Helen Dalton has called on the NSW Government to explain why the Murray electorate will receive minimal road safety funding.
The NSW Government announced $202 million in regional road funding as part of the second round of the Towards Zero Roads program, of which the seat of Murray will receive $400,000.
Ms Dalton was outraged by the allocation, stating that it is insufficient to properly fix the electorate’s various road safety concerns, notably Swan Hill and Tooleybuc bridges.
“The program is called Towards Zero, and when it comes to funding, that’s just about what they have given us, virtually zero,” she said.
“This paltry allocation will do nothing to address the dangerous and deadly roads in my electorate.
“The government says it is committed to saving lives on rural and regional roads, but I can assure you, no-one will be safer on our roads because this $400,000 will barely be enough to fill the countless potholes we have to put up with every time we drive our cars.
“What about the Swan Hill Bridge? What about the Tooleybuc Bridge? Where is the money to make these bridges safer and functional?”
A Transport NSW Spokesperson responded to Ms Dalton’s concerns, emphasising that ample funds have been allocated for road repairs in the Murray region in the 2024/25 financial year.
“In the 2024-25 financial year, $19 million has been allocated to routine maintenance work in the Murray region, including heavy patching repairs, pothole repairs, vegetation clearing and other upkeep,” they said.
“Another $30 million has been allocated for capital pavement work, which would include large resealing and rehabilitation projects across major corridors in the Murray, including the Sturt Highway, Kidman Way, Cobb Highway, Burley Griffin Way, Riverina Highway, the Newell Highway and Irrigation Way.
“The Australian and NSW Governments have committed $67.5 million to the planning and construction of a new Swan Hill bridge. Planning and development are under way, and further funding will be sought as part of this process.
“Significant restoration and maintenance work is being carried out on Tooleybuc bridge to ensure a stronger and safer bridge for all transport customers.
“So far, in the 2024-25 financial year, a further $2.4 million has been committed to complete approximately 1.5 kilometres of shoulder widening and safety barrier installations in the Euston area.”
While Ms Dalton acknowledged that the NSW Government had allocated funding for the Swan Hill bridge, she raised concerns about how long the repairs would take to complete.
“The NSW Government says it has allocated $67.5 million to planning and construction for the new Swan Hill bridge,” she said.
“But this money is a long way off from actually being spent.
“At the moment, this urgently needed bridge is stuck in the planning and development stage.
“The project could languish there for years, and that money won’t get spent.
“It’s high time the NSW Government prioritised actually building things in Murray, rather than just drawing up plans and then not doing much about those plans.”