Over $1.9 million in federal and state funding has been set aside for one road as part of the Fixing Local Roads program.
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Blayney Shire Council will receive $1,920,750 to heavily patch Panuara Road which runs along the southern edge of Cadia Valley Operations southern tailings dam.
As an approved B-Double route the condition of the road along a 3.7 kilometre section has been described by Blayney mayor Scott Ferguson as having severely failing pavement.
"It's without a doubt the worst stretch of bitumen road in Blayney shire," he said.
It may not be a road that many locals would ever drive along, and many locals would be able to pick any number of other roads to repair, but Cr Ferguson said that the road fitted the criteria for the Fixing Local Roads program perfectly.
"The program is a relatively new one and this road really ticks all the boxes for what is a good example of state and federal governments working with local government to get things done," he said.
"It's a well trafficked heavy vehicle route with a quarter of the traffic being heavy vehicles," he said. "If it doesn't get fixed and it's deemed unsafe that would mean more trucks on other roads in the shire."
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the funding is all about creating safer roads.
"We're injecting even more funding into the roads in the bush that communities depend on, which means a safer and smoother journey for everyone," he said.
"Better maintained roads mean safer trips to school, to work and to the shops - and the NSW Government is committed to helping councils to create and support jobs, drive productivity and keep our regional communities connected.
"Big infrastructure projects might create a lot of headlines but these are small projects that make a big difference in people's everyday lives."
NSW MLC Sam Farraway said that the funding will lessen the burden on local councils like Blayney.
"NSW has a road network of more than 180,000 kilometres in length, and nearly 80 percent is classified as local roads, so it is a real challenge for councils to effectively manage and maintain their road assets," he said
"This program won't just ease the burden of maintenance for local councils, but it will deliver safer, more reliable journeys for all local road users."
Federal member for Calare and minister for decentralisation and regional education, Andrew Gee, said safe and reliable roads were essential for country communities.
"We know that if you are a country resident, you are far more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a road accident than you are if you're from the city," Mr Gee said.
"The cold hard truth is that the road toll is higher in the bush than metropolitan areas.
"The trauma from country road accidents is devastating not only for victims but also for police and emergency services personnel who have to attend the accidents."
Mr Gee said that "one of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the turbo-charging of key investments in country roads".
"Not only will these projects help save lives, but they will give country communities a big economic shot in the arm by making possible roadworks that would have otherwise been sitting on council waiting lists."
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