POTHOLES on Wingham Road will be patched weekly if Greater Taree City Council gets the green light from ratepayers for its proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV).
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Wingham Road currently gets patched every fortnight but council is keen to see weekly work done to maintain this major regional road but it needs more cash in its coffers to fund the works.
The proposed boost to the road patching schedule is one of many projects that could be delivered to our community if ratepayers agree to fund a six per cent SRV for six years.
According to council, the SRV would "deliver more than $2 million per year for maintenance activities" and Wingham Road is not the only regional road that would benefit - all regional roads in the local government area would get a weekly once-over.
Under council's planned program, collector roads, such as Muldoon Street, would be reviewed fortnightly and local and minor roads, currently only reviewed based on a report being lodged, would be inspected on a four-week cycle.
Other maintenance activities that would be undertaken include line-marking, drainage management, roadside vegetation management, gravel patching, shoulder grading and the installation of safety barriers.
Pothole patching remains a constant source of community complaint to council and general manager, Ron Posselt says "that unless potholes are patched frequently, the entire pavement under the surface can be damaged."
"The seal on a road is like a coat of paint, protecting the road pavement underneath," Mr Posselt explained.
"After about 15 years, bitumen can crack and allow water into the pavement, which softens the road base. Unless potholes are patched frequently, the entire pavement under the surface can be damaged, further contributing to our infrastructure backlog".
Mr Posselt is keen for the community to understand the extent of council's infrastructure backlog.
"Infrastructure backlog refers to the value of work that needs to be undertaken to bring a region's assets up to an acceptable standard," Mr Posselt explained.
"NSW councils have a combined backlog valued at over $5 billion. Regional towns like Greater Taree currently have 76 per cent more backlog than the state average, despite spending 34 per cent more per capita on their roads, bridges and footpaths."
The community consultation process will include a council shopfront in Manning Street, Taree that will open from Monday, November 16.
Click here for more detailed information about council's proposed SRV.
