ON the back of a $1.5 million federal funding announcement for the construction of a roundabout on the intersection of Gwydir Highway and the Tingha Bridge, made by the Member for New England and Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce just days prior to the July 2 election, council is now seeking state government funding of about $500,000 to get the project underway.
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On preliminary design and costings we are about half a million dollars short.
- Cr Paul Harmon
Inverell mayor Paul Harmon said council also had $1 million in reserves that could be drawn on to put towards the project.
“On preliminary design and costings we are about half a million dollars short,” he said.
“So we’ve written to our local state Member Adam Marshall, asking for some state government contribution as well because it is certainly an intersection that carries a lot of traffic.
“The roundabout would certainly provide productivity gains for our transport operators.”
Cr Harmon said productivity gains were something Roads Minister Duncan Gay had spoken about before in relation to roads funding.
“This project certainly ticks all those boxes,” he said.
Cr Harmon said council general manger Paul Henry wrote to Adam Marshall’s office about July 7. He said the figure of $500,000 was based on preliminary costings.
“What the staff are doing now is going through and finalising design, and because it is an RMS road, they have to approve of all the design process,” he said.
“So my understanding is that that’s where it’s up to at the moment in the design process. Then we’ll have a final figure, but certainly we’ve asked Adam Marshall to put our case forward to the Minister for at least a half a million contribution for that roundabout.”
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said he was not aware of council’s request.
“I look forward to receiving details of the project from Inverell Shire Council, and talking with council about it,” Mr Marshall said.
“As always, I will pursue any avenue I can to secure some funding for the project.”
Steven Green
Senior Journalist with The Young Witness and The Inverell Times. A married, Blues supporter, I have grandkids who support the Maroons, I drink too much coffee, eat too much sugar and am constantly in search of the perfect pizza.
Senior Journalist with The Young Witness and The Inverell Times. A married, Blues supporter, I have grandkids who support the Maroons, I drink too much coffee, eat too much sugar and am constantly in search of the perfect pizza.
