MAYORAL MINUTE: Declaration of Statewide Road Emergency

Published on 22 November 2022

Clarence Valley Council has joined with Local Government NSW and the Country Mayors Association of NSW in declaring a Statewide Road Emergency.

Local Government NSW declared a Statewide Roads Emergency on 3 November 2022, and received public support from the Country Mayors Association of NSW. The declaration – and urgent call for the NSW and Federal governments to increase their existing road funding commitments in the wake of the floods – comes on the back of an estimated $2.5 billion in road damages.

"I call on Clarence Valley Council to show our support for this move and whole-heartedly endorse the Local Government NSW declaration of Statewide Road Emergency," Mayor Tiley said.

"We are well aware the Clarence Valley has been hit by a seemingly relentless wave of flood events in the past 12 months, and we are not alone."

A total of 126 of the state's 128 local government areas have had natural disaster declarations within the past 12 months, according to the President of Local Government NSW, Cr Darriea Turley.

Councillors unanimously endorsed a Mayoral Minute prepared by Mayor Ian Tiley at the Ordinary Council Meeting held at Grafton Council Chambers today (22 Nov).

The Statewide Roads Emergency calls for:

• An acceleration and significant increase in funding from the NSW Government for the $1.1 billion Fixing Local Roads and Fixing Country Bridges program;
• A boost to Road Block Grant funding from the Federal Government to compensate for the damage to the regional road network;
• New funding from the Federal Government to provide councils with plant machinery and skilled workers to expedite road repairs.

"We are facing a task that is beyond the reasonable scope of any local government authority," Mayor Tiley said.

"We face an unprecedented disaster that requires an unprecedented response. We need help. Our community needs help. Other regional and rural communities across the state and beyond need help. We desperately need our leaders to lead."

In support of the declaration, Mayor Tiley will write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet pleading for immediate action.