MAITLAND's road maintenance backlog will be slashed in half with an extra $32 million for the city's council - but only if the Labor Party snags the top spot at the state election next month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Incumbent MP Jenny Aitchison announced the infrastructure boost alongside Maitland mayor Loretta Baker and Shadow Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Jodi McKay in East Maitland on Thursday.
It comes just weeks after a report by the NRMA revealed that Maitland has a whopping $64 million backlog of road maintenance.
The report found that councils across the Hunter are facing a combined backlog of $162 million needed to bring their roads up to a satisfactory condition.
Mrs Aitchison said Labor would knock out a large portion of the council's road maintenance backlog.
"These are the roads that council funds on their own through rates but they have their four-year plan. It's money that they haven't been able to access before," she said.
"This is about assisting rural communities and we know one of the biggest things that local councils struggle with is local roads because they just don't receive state government funding.
"It will bring the roads up to a standard [and] that will be an enormous assistance to council. It's really hard for councils to keep up with the growing population so it's being done on a needs basis.
"It's a really big game-changer."
Mayor Loretta Baker said the city's worst roads had been costed at $37 million for repair, according to 2016 council data.
"This will knock out most of our backlog. It will make a massive difference," she said.
She added the funding boost would improve roads that aren't currently in the council's capital works program.
"These are the roads that our residents use every day," Cr Baker said.
"We are a growing population, and we need the infrastructure. It will be easier for people to move around and the condition of the roads will be improved."
The roads that could benefit from the funding injection include Stronach Avenue in East Maitland and Denton Park Drive in Rutherford.
The Hunter will receive a stake of $81 million under the promise after NSW Opposition leader Michael Daly pledged $900 million for repairing roads across the state last week.
In the blue corner, the NSW Liberals have been busy with its $543 million ‘Fixing Country Roads’ program.
