Rural Roads: Money needs to be spent

North West Magazine [8 June 1998]

The state of country roads in New South Wales has long been a thorny issue. A succession of governments have tried, albeit some with more incentive than others, to improve the quality of country roads, particularly in more remote areas.

With a State election looming next year NSW Premier Bob Carr has promised to address the problem in the bush. In last weeks’ Budget he earmarked $2 million to be spent on roads with half of that money coming to the bush. He has also promised to fix an ageing rural bridge network. Is it just political rhetoric aimed at appeasing that part of the state largely ignored by his government, or can the people of the "forgotten land" – rural NSW, expect action? Freelance Writer CAROLYN M CASH lived in the North West for many years and knows first-hand the quality (or lack of) the roads we have to use. She talks about, and looks at the problems and issues confronting whoever is called Premier of NSW, after the next election.

Mr Kersten describes the main arterial rural roads as a "nightmare for people out there".

"They can’t travel when it rains and it is a week before they can drive out," said Mr Kersten. Things that city people take for granted.

"These people are taxpayers and entitled to good roads."

Walgett Shire residents, west of Pilliga, face this problem with black soil roads. Light rain is cause for anxiety. Travel plans are disrupted and vehicles become bogged due to the high clay content.

Member for Barwon, Ian Slack-Smith, says the Narrabri-Bingara is the worst road in his electorate. Sealing this road is vital as an east-west link to the coast, by-passing Moree, and taking pressure off the Newell Highway.

"It won’t happen unless it’s sealed," said Mr Slack-Smith.

The East West (Wee Waa-Walgett) road designed for 90kph traffic, has ruts and bumps. The Wee Waa-Narrabri road desperately needs attention since its "life" expired two years ago.

Collins Bridge is becoming a high priority s it is very old and cannot take the weight of road-trains. The bridge needs replacing –- and soon.

Mr Kneale says major problems are limited budgeting and funding. Another problem for the Narrabri Shire Council is that the Roads and Traffic Authority tells the Shire how and what to spend on funding and maintenance. The council must determine best value for money for rate-payers.

A new study completed by the State Opposition suggests the Labor government is neglecting country roads in favour of metropolitan electorates.

George Souris, Shadow Minister for Public Works and Roads, says country roads’ funding was slashed by almost $50 million, a reduction of 7.7%.

The number of accidents on country roads has also increased. Recent reports show almost 40 more deaths than for the same period last year.

"Funding for country roads dropped from $814 million in 96/97 to $767 million in 97/98. The Labor government does not understand that regional development will not happen without adequate road funding.

"No amount of glib words can overcome that fact," Mr Souris added.

"Yet, there has been a massive funding increase in Rockdale and Hurstville electorates, showing how the M5-East will hurt regional roads for the next three years."

Mr Slack-Smith added that $300 million was taken from the roads budget for the M5-East construction. A huge blow-out and the M5-East will not be ready for the Olympics.

State and Federal Governments allocate funding, including unsealed roads, including the Walgett-Pilliga and Walgett-Carinda roads.

Following rain the roads often have deep ruts, caused by vehicles driving on damp soil. This is a shock to the system for small cars and their drivers, unused to rural road conditions. Not to mention additional wear and tear on the vehicles.

Road priority decisions are made by the council. Input from local action groups, lobbying for road improvement in their region, is also considered.

This is a public relations exercise as the council is accessible to ratepayers to serve them and make life a bit easier.

Public relations include a tour in a mini-bus to meet with the various community groups, as local people are more knowledgeable about their area. Also the council determines the best value for money.

"Council does not have enough money to construct roads," says Bill West, an engineer employed by the Walgett Shire.

"Funding has never kept pace with road usage," added Robert Kneale.

"The Walgett-Carinda is the worst road in NSW," claimed Moppett, MLC.

The Walgett-Carinda road is a priority for the Walgett Shire Council, Mr West claimed, and construction of the 80km road will take about five years.

The local shire councils decide which roads are given priority and Bill West says this process involves placing a notice in the local newspaper. Representations are made to local groups, and two trouble-spots are highlighted, Carinda and Come-By-Chance.

Low-cost road maintenance in the Narrabri Shire starts at $100,000 per kilometre. At the opposite end of the scale, high-cost maintenance varies between $300,000 and $400,000 per kilometre.

However, routine maintenance does not include constructing new roads. Basic equipment involves a grader, roller and water cart, which can cost between $1500 to $1700 per day on the road. This does not include transporting gravel or construction.

Another problem is gravel quality for natural surface roads. Not all areas in the Narrabri Shire have good gravel. Road workers usually need building materials close by to the site, approximately 10km. The distance varies from to 20 and 40km, especially west of Wee Waa.

Bill Kneale claims there is no substitute for good gravel.

Doug Moppett mentioned possible plans for an alternative route to the Newell Highway, northwards of Gilgandra to Narrabri, via Coonamble and Pilliga.

Good news is that part of the regional Main Road 127 (Wee Waa to Pilliga) was sealed under the Fahey-Armstrong government’s 3X3 Road Levy Scheme. The Narrabri-Gunnedah road is widened to B-Double standards and the Pilliga-Coonamble road is about half-sealed.

However flooding at Taluba Creek often causes road closure between Pilliga and Wee Waa. The wooden bridge and causeway are inadequate for coping with excess water.

Former MP Wal Murray legislated the 3X3 program to direct road funding money into the bush. Mr Slack-Smith says only 40% is now spent on country roads. The other 60% is used for bus shelters, bicycle tracks and other non-road items in metropolitan areas.

Bitumen for Regional Road 127 (Wee Waa-Pilliga) is a high priority, after numerous submissions from the Pilliga Road Committee.

"Roads are an important link for commerce, goods and services in rural areas and this won’t happen unless roads in the area are sealed," said Mr Slack-Smith.

"Sealed roads open up commerce to large areas."

Mr Slack-Smith added that a shire looks at a single strip of bitumen for unsealed roads to provide better access, before widening considerations.

The aim is to get bitumen so drivers can travel safely at 90kph.

"It is vital that Pilliga has a sealed road link," he added.

A spokesman for BP Australia, Neil McMaster, confirmed a possible site for a service station at Pilliga.

"As yet no plans have been finalised," said Mr McMaster, a public relations manager for BP.

Other problems in the region include a sparse population and lack of funds to link towns with good roads. Most of the region in the Narrabri Shire consists of flood plain and road costs include moving men and equipment for road maintenance.

Changes have also occurred in traffic patterns in the north-west during the past two decades. Robert Kneale said roads have a life-span of 20 to 25 years, hence an ageing road network.

However, technology in vehicles, including road-trains, has vastly improved to handle road conditions across Australia.

Country roads were never designed to take the punishment they’re now receiving. The Shire Council also tries to maintain a high safety margin.

This in turn, sees more people making use of the road network, due to a shift in philosophy. Once the general farming public remained on their farms, unless a visit to town was necessary.

Today, in many cases, only the husband remains on the farm while the wife works in town and the children attend school or hold jobs in the nearby town.

Today, road users are more educated and demand better services. Once parents didn’t mind if their children missed a few days of school because of wet weather and slippery roads. Today, parents consider their children’s rights to attend school—every day.

This is essential for students in Year 11 and 12. It means catching up on work they have missed, as well as homework and study.

Is there hope for the people of north-west NSW?

In his address at the annual State conference in June last year, National Party leader Ian Armstrong said there was a rapid decline of NSW roads under the present administration. The coalition promised to "restore country road funding which the Carr Government siphoned off to pay its city debts."

Ian Armstrong said road maintenance funding had decreased as road accidents increased.

© 1998 Carolyn M Cash