Mr Gee used a speech in State Parliament late last week to call on the NSW Government to fund the crossing upgrade – a project mooted for eight decades.

“At the moment a large portion of road from Orange to Dixons Long Point and through to Mudgee is dirt,” Mr Gee said.

“Building a crossing at Dixons Long Point will cut the trip from Orange to Mudgee or Gulgong by about 80 kilometres, which is a substantial saving. The crossing itself is only 42 kilometres from Orange and 49 kilometres from Mudgee.

“Over the next three years, I would like to see the new crossing constructed and the approaches paved and made safe. I figure we’ll need about $15 to $20 million all up and I’d like to see some planning money for it in next year’s budget. In future years, upgrading the rest of the route could happen, but it all needs to start with the crossing.

“A new crossing would open up the entire Central West to tourism, making it a huge economic boost for the Central West. It would also further link the two great electorates of Dubbo and Orange.”

Mr Gee said there is currently no raised crossing at Dixons Long Point, which means you have to drive across the riverbed.

“If the water is high, as it often is, you cannot get across in a vehicle,” Mr Gee said.

“This project has been sought for 80 years, and my feeling is that if we don’t get it moving now, it will never happen. Its time has come.

“My predecessor Russell Turner made a speech on the floor of NSW Parliament back in 2001, calling for this project to get underway. The Federal Government at the time promised to allocate $3 million funding towards it and subsequently asked the then State Labor Government to match the commitment. 

“Unfortunately, it said no, which was extremely disappointing.

“The campaign for Dixons Long Point River crossing has started again. I will not rest until this project is underway. After 80 years of trying, let’s get this project done.”