Media Releases 2012

Mayor calls for State Roads maintenance to be fully funded

21 Feb 2012

Wyong Shire Mayor Bob Graham has written to State Member for The Entrance Chris Spence to request the State Government fully fund vegetation control works on State Roads in the Shire. 

“Mr Spence recently quoted some figures publically and questioned whether we had our facts right,” Mayor Graham said.

“Well, the facts in this case can’t be disputed.”

This year, Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) will fund Council $187,000 for routine road corridor works which includes vegetation control and litter management of median strips between the kerbs only on State roads.

In addition to the $187,000 funding, Council spends more than $350,000 a year on Wyong Road, $94,000 on the Pacific Highway and Tuggerah Straight and $88,000 a year at entry points and high profile intersections in regard to landscape and vegetation maintenance.

“These funds were actually re-diverted from other Council programs,” Mayor Graham said.

“It’s true that further funding is provided for routine road maintenance and street sweeping, however there has been minimal increase to funding since the agreement was put in place more than 10 years ago.”

Council’s agreement with the RMS stretches back to 2000, however the funding hasn’t increased in line with increasing costs of providing an adequate service, particularly given a majority of vegetation control works need to be undertaken at night to ensure staff safety.

Current State Government funding only allows for staff to undertake vegetation control on average two nights per month along the approximate 9.9 kilometres of median strip along Wyong Road. This work focuses on garden maintenance and weed spraying.

The agreement between Council and RMS has been known as the Routine Maintenance Council Contract since 2008. It includes routine services, ordered work and incident response on State Roads.

Council maintains the State Roads in accordance with the levels of service and within the funding provided.

“All routine maintenance works undertaken on behalf of RMS is for pothole patching, guideposts, litter collection, minor drainage and graffiti and vegetation control,” Mayor Graham said.

The total amount payable to Council this financial year for these routine works is $392,000, of which $187,000 is for the vegetation control and litter component, minor drainage works and guideposts.

“We are continuing to receive a huge amount of feedback from residents wanting an increase in the level of vegetation control,” Mayor Graham said.

“These roads are significant within the Shire because they are gateways to our tourist areas and we want the State Government to fully fund vegetation control works recognising the high profile of these roads.

“I will continue to take up this issue on behalf of Council and push to ensure adequate funding is forthcoming."

Media Contact: Cameron Bell (02) 4350 1667 or 0434 324 645