REVELATIONS that Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) is offering up to $1 million for environmental works to close the southern end of the Bellingen-Bowraville Rd has stunned and angered local residents.
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After years of procrastination, millions of dollars in studies and workshops and ultimately, inaction, (see timeline story below), this latest development, says Spicketts Creek resident David Wallin, is simply unacceptable.
“We now have an excellent road from here to Bellingen, including 14 sections where heavy engineering work has been carried out,” David told the Guardian.
“All this was paid for from Natural Disaster Funding.
“We have always understood that the whole road would eventually be reopened - why would the State Government spend all this money ($3.3 million) and only do half the job?”
Another resident, Helen Marges, picked up on a further point, which was the pledge of support for the repairs made by the Member for Oxley, Andrew Stoner, before the 2011 election.
“Roads are assets not liabilities ... and promises should not be merely made in order to seek a vote from a constituent,” Helen said.
“Public money should be spent wisely - there is no value to communities in repairing half a road that now leads nowhere except as a long winding driveway for a handful of residents.”
Nambucca Shire mayor Rhonda Hoban said the fact that inaccurate quotes on the part of the RMS were what seemingly placed the repair job out of reach was particularly galling.
“They quoted $10 million for the northern end, and the cost was $3.3 million ... on that basis the southern end (quoted at $16 million) could have been fixed for the balance or close to it.
“This is an equity issue - are residents on the Nambucca end of the road less important than the others?”
In the longer term, she said the way this had played out was alarming for communities and councils.
“In this situation disaster funding depended on the total cost,” Cr Hoban said.
“Communities can’t be assured that in the case of extreme natural disasters, where repairs are beyond the capacity of the community, repairs will be funded - even if they meet all the criteria.”
She added she felt sure that had the road been in a more high profile place, the outcome would have been different.
“It is another slap in the face for rural and regional Australia.”
Nambucca Shire councillors will vote tonight on whether to proceed with undertaking the environmental works; this would also involve liaising with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Rural Fire Service.
