Wollongong City Council roads make up almost half of a $167 million maintenance funding backlog in the South Coast, according to a motoring body.
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The NRMA has released its annual Funding Local Roads report, which looks at the condition of roads across the state and how much money is needed to fix them.
According to the report, in the 2016-17 financial year South Coast councils need an extra $166.5 million to get roads up to scratch.
Wollongong City Council made up the lion's share of that tally, with $79.8 million – a rise of 6.7 per cent from the 2015-16 financial year.
Shellharbour and Kiama councils’ shortfalls have dropped to $600,000 and $3.7 million respectively.
That equates to drops of 17.1 per cent and 77 per cent respectively over the previous financial year.
Roads and Maritime Services are in charge of looking after major roads in the region like the Princes Highway and Lawrence Hargrave Drive, while suburban roads are the responsibility of local councils.
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The NRMA report recommended one approach to deal with the shortfall would be to move “strategic roads” from councils to NSW Government’s jurisdiction because “most councils simply lack the financial capacity” to repair the local road network.
It also suggested using the funds from the Snowy Hydro sale to upgrade the road network.
This year, the Funding Local Roads report is tied in with a push from the NRMA to get public feedback on the best and worst roads in the state via the Rate Your Road website.
Results from the survey will be released prior to the March state election and will be used to lobby politicians.
“Over the last two years the gap between what councils need to maintain local roads at a safe and satisfactory standard has grown 30 per cent,” said the NRMA’s Illawarra area director Marisa Mastroianni.
“This isn’t good enough and this March election the NRMA will be out to mobilise the community to have their say.”