Yass Valley Council was awarded $2.9M under the latest round of the Fixing Local Roads Program to seal a section of Back Creek Road with the aim to improve journeys for regional communities, farmers and freight.
The funding will cover five kilometers beginning at the Sutton Road intersection, but any necessary future roadworks will be at the mercy of additional grant opportunities.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the local project is among 138 to rollout under the $153 million third round of the Program, which facilitates shovel-ready projects to repair, maintain and seal priority roads in their community.
“Funding the sealing of Back Creek Road gives Council a helping hand to address their maintenance backlog and to maintain a road that will create more efficient journeys for freight operators and primary producers in the Yass Valley region,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
Yass Valley Mayor Rowena Abbey said Back Creek Road provides necessary ac- cess between Yass River Road and Sutton Road and an important link to Gundaroo and Canberra for our rural community.
“Our community is already reaping the benefits of this program with $5.5M invested in rehabilitation and resealing of a number of local roads in earlier rounds,” Cr Abbey said.
It will also provide safer and more efficient journeys for the community, as well as re- duce annual maintenance grading requirements said Yass Valley Council’s Director of Infrastructure and Assets, James Dugdell.
Not to mention increasing the structural integrity of the road. Which will reduce flooding and subsequent road damage through additional culverts and upgraded roadside drainage.
The removal of trees and other roadside hazards will further improve safety in the area.
Fixing Local Roads had already delivered more than $394 million for 361 projects across 91 regional Local Government Areas from Armidale to Albury in the first two rounds.
These projects won’t just ensure that locals see the benefits of this investment when they get behind the wheel they’re also supporting an additional 1,374 jobs across the state throughout construction.
Fixing Local Roads is a $500 million NSW Government program, which was boosted by the Australian Government over the first two rounds with an additional $191 million.
By Brianna O’Rourke
Photo: Wendy Tuckerman on Back Creek Road (Supplied)
