UPGRADE NEEDED: In response to claims from residents that Cargo Road needs to be upgraded, Cabonne Council spokesperson Dale Jones said council would continue to lobby the government for funding improvements and upgrades to Cargo Road. Photo: Google Maps
THE future of Cabonne’s roads will not be made clearer until next month.
Council is set to attend a two-day future directions forum next month to discuss what should be priorities on the agenda for the next four years.
The record road budget of $15.9 million dollars should be allocated during the meeting.
In response to claims from residents that Cargo Road needs to be upgraded, Cabonne Council spokesperson Dale Jones said council would continue to lobby the government for funding improvements and upgrades to Cargo Road.
Mr Jones said council was responsible for 214 kilometres of regional roads and 1938 kilometres of local roads, 1270 kilometres of which were unsealed.
Mr Jones said council’s director of engineering and technical services met with roads minister Duncan Gay in June to address the shortfall in funds available to councils.
The director bought to the attention of the minister that block grant funding for the regional roads network was not sufficient to maintain roads to a safe standard.
Mr Jones said Member for Orange Andrew Gee’s comments in regards to a further $500,000 was to be “dropped into council’s kitty” needed to be made clear.
“The Government allocated $1.5 million for the new Nashdale Bridge on Cargo Road and this money was announced some time ago,” he said
“The Government is providing the money to council in stages.
“We have received $1 million and the remaining $500,000 for the project is due to be paid shortly.
“It is not an additional $500,000 going into council’s kitty although Mr Gee’s comment could have been construed as this