State grants boost Council roads repair
Northern Beaches Council will spend around $13 million this financial year repairing potholes and resurfacing local roads, with a further $9m planned after July.
Between July 2022 and January 2023, Council spent $1.9m repairing 3,346 potholes, with $25 to $30m needed to fully resurface damaged local roads. Around $5.5m has been spent so far on resurfacing roads.
The information was tabled at the council’s February meeting in response to a notice of motion by Pittwater councillor Miranda Korzy in November.
Cr Korzy said she had tabled the motion as ‘there was so much anger’ from residents about the hundreds of potholes which had still not been repaired after heavy rain around Pittwater and the Beaches last year.
Ms Korzy said that she had received ‘numerous complaints’ from residents whose vehicles had suffered damage to tyres and car suspension.
Council is responsible for local streets, but main arterial roads like Barrenjoey Road and Mona Vale Road fall under the ambit of Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW).
Council’s executive manager for transport and civil infrastructure Craig Sawyer, revealed the State Government has recently provided an additional $9.1m to the Northern Beaches for the repair of local roads.
Mr Sawyer estimated that $25 to $30m was needed to fully resurface damaged local roads, with 1,114 streets identified as in need of repair from rain.
Cr Korzy told Peninsula Living that the additional $9.1m would make a ‘big difference’ and go a long way to fixing roads and potholes throughout the whole council area.
“Council can’t resurface every road… but the deepest potholes which cause most damage to people’s tyres must be fixed.”
Cr Korzy called on the State Government to urgently repair roads like Barrenjoey Road in Palm Beach, which is subsiding in sections.
Council has written to the NSW Government requesting ‘further action’ on state roads in the area, and a ‘general increase in road funding to keep our road network safe, efficient and reliable’.
Discussion of Mr Sawyer’s report was deferred and tabled for Council’s meeting on 28 March.