The state government would pick up the tab of the busiest local government roads, which in Orange includes the Northern Distributor under a Labor government.
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NSW opposition spokesman for regional roads Peter Primrose revealed the plan when he visited Orange on Thursday.
Mr Primrose said rural and regional councils do not get enough funding for roads so the party wants to change the funding formula and take on some of the burden for the busiest roads.
Mr Primrose said councils would nominate the busiest roads that would benefit from state funding.
“That would then free-up resources to fix-up pot holes on other local roads,” he said.
Mr Primrose visited Orange along with deputy opposition leader Penny Sharpe, opposition spokesman for education David Harris.
That would then free-up resources to fix-up pot holes on other local roads.
- NSW opposition spokesman for regional roads Peter Primrose
Mr Harris said Labor would also give $5000 to each school P&C, in addition to their fundraising efforts so the parent-based groups have funds to use where they are needed.
“It’s giving parents some say in how that funding gets used,” he said.
The Labor representatives were in town to discuss issues with Country Labor candidate for Orange Luke Sanger, Country Labor candidate for Bathurst Beau Riley at a Central NSW Councils (CENTROC) meeting with 10 regional mayors.
Ms Sharpe said the main focus at the CENTROC meeting was to discuss infrastructure and regional needs in the Central West with the mayors who included Reg Kidd, Cabonne mayor Kevin Beatty and Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger.
Ms Sharpe said the meeting was important to open dialogue between the Central West councils and the party’s representatives to create a better understanding of the needs in country areas.
She said issues raised at the meeting included decentralisation, drought and the infrastructure projects such as better roads and public transport.
Ms Sharpe and Mr Sanger said from what they have been told, people in country areas are frustrated at being ignored and seeing funding being diverted to city-centric projects such as replacing sports stadiums.
She said Labor has a fight on its hands but is committed to helping country areas.
“We require a nine per cent swing, we require 13 seats,” Ms Sharpe said.
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