Forbes Shire will receive over $9M as part of the road repair funding, which is desperately needed to continue repairing roads still damaged since to 2021 flooding.
The NSW Labor Government has sped up delivery of more than $64 million to councils in western NSW to repair roads and transport infrastructure damaged during natural disasters.
This funding comes as Lithgow, Cabonne, Weddin, Forbes, Lachlan and Parkes local government areas were among the first in the state to sign a pioneering pilot funding agreement with the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Transport for NSW, streamlining the distribution of disaster recovery funds.
Through the newly established Tripartite Agreements, councils can access advance funding, from the NSW and Australian Governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), at the onset of each reconstruction phase.
The Tripartite Agreements mean less financial pressure on councils, faster road repairs for communities and enhance collaboration between government agencies.
Councils receiving funding under this initiative include:
• Lithgow City Council: $33.75 million
• Cabonne Council: $10.86 million
• Weddin Shire Council: $4.59 million
• Forbes Shire Council: $3.43 million
• Lachlan Shire Council: $9.05 million
• Parkes Shire Council: $2.51 millionThe Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said “For too long councils have struggled to get timely access to disaster road recovery funding.
“The Tripartite Agreements have been a huge success as Transport for NSW was able to deliver $296 million into councils’ bank accounts in the last three months alone. Prior to the 2022 natural disasters, a normal budget would have around $190 million per year for natural disaster road recovery funding.
“With the $3.3 billion in the budget allocated over the next four years for natural disaster road recovery funding, we will be rolling out funding faster than ever before.
“Regional communities will be able to rebuild roads and restore vital transport links more quickly thanks to the collaborative efforts of councils, Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.”