NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay suspects over 80 per cent of roads in the Forbes Shire have been damaged by floodwater to some degree.
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He toured the flood ravaged region on Tuesday afternoon with Nationals candidate for Orange Scott Barrett and the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
“What we saw was water lapping both sides of the road,” Mr Gay said of the Newell Highway, the major arterial road linking Forbes, Parkes and Dubbo.
“When you get water lapping both sides of the road, it goes through underneath.”
Mr Gay said the extent of road damage will not be fully known until the floodwater recedes.
“Most of the damage will be when roads open again and heavy vehicles go through,” he said.
“I don’t think I was quite expecting to see as much water, which is tough on the roads.”
The minister also addressed plans to upgrade the low-lying section of the Newell Highway in an effort to keep the Forbes to Parkes corridor open.
“I’ve asked the RMS to investigate Tichborne to see what we can do as far as future proofing the road,” he said.
“We’re going to very carefully take a detailed look.
“I also have to recommend to heavy vehicles that they’re better to stay out of here, they are damaging local roads.”
The Tichborne road project is expected to cost around $1 million.
With traffic diversions that have been in place Mr Gay says Forbes’ businesses have taken a major hit.
“It’s the local council that has to pay additionally for these roads and hopefully get the money back from us,” the minister said.
It’s a one-in-25-year event, we have to accept that.
- NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay
“The detour roads suffer as well as the main roads and part of the natural disaster funding will be to help reinstate them.
“It’s a one-in-25-year event, we have to accept that.”
Mr Barrett asked the minister to travel to Forbes to see the extent of the damage.
“We’ve had a lot of rain, and not just in the last little while, but in the last few months,” Mr Barrett said.
“It’s been good to be able to take the minister around and show him some of the damage that has occurred, not just where there has been floods, but on the other roads that have been used as a result of the floods.”
The byelection candidate said work on the Newell Highway is crucial.
