Gareth Ward welcomes over $5.8 million in funding under the State Government’s Regional and Local Roads Repair Program which will help two local Councils to undertake priority maintenance works and repair potholes.

Funding includes $4.8 million for Shoalhaven City Council and $1.2 million for Shellharbour City Council. 

While the funding is greatly welcomed, Gareth states that councils and the state government also need to be working toward more permanent improvements rather than ‘patchwork’ solutions. 

“The only problem I see with funding like this is it encourages repairs without betterment. By ‘betterment’ I mean improving road design, drainage and other elements which improve road conditions and reduce maintenance cost over the life of road assets,” says Gareth. 

The funding will make a significant difference and will prioritise maintenance works and immediate repair of potholes on Local and Regional Roads managed by Shoalhaven and Shellharbour councils. 

One local resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “I find it hard to believe that those two councils got money but the Kiama Council did not. Why have those two councils been singled out? 

“There are a lot of roads in the Jamberoo area that need fixing. There’s potholes on the Swamp road, but it is just the roads in general right throughout the Kiama municipality. It is an important matter of road safety for the ratepayers of this area.”