The Wingecarribee has an infrastructure backlog of $3.5 million, according to the NRMA’s latest Funding Local Roads report.
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The report said the funding backlog, which was the gap between what councils spent and what they earmarked as necessary in order to keep the roads to safe standards, has been growing for the past three years.
The infrastructure funding deficit was $3.5 million in 2016-17, which was an increase of 6.7 per cent from 2015-16. According to the data, Wingecarribee Shire Council received $7 million in road grants in 2016-17.
This was a 24.4 per cent increase, with grants of $5.6 million received in the 2015-16 period.
According to the report, the financial capacity of local governments has been diminished by declining revenues and increasing maintenance costs.
“Under the national funding system, local government is responsible for funding, upgrading and maintaining thousands of kilometres of roadways,” the report states.
“While local expertise and input can assist to prioritise road projects, declining council revenues and increasing maintenance costs are quickly diminishing the financial capacity of local governments to invest.
“In addition to council revenues, local governments rely on grants and federal and state funding to maintain and improve the road network. While federal and state funding has increased in recent times, a significant shortfall still exists.
“The need to adequately fund upgrades and the construction of new road infrastructure to cater for future growth in both passenger and freight traffic has not been addressed.”
According to the NRMA, over several recent years, the funding backlog has risen by almost 30 per cent from $1.73 billion in 2014-15 to $2.2 billion in 2016-17.
Where are the worst roads in the Highlands? Email emily.bennett@fairfaxmedia.com,au with the details.
