Region’s roads high on NRMA ‘worst’ list

The New England Highway, Oxley Highway, Thunderbolts Way, Werris Creek Rd and Fossickers Way are northern inland’s worst roads, but the Newell Highway is noticeably absent from the top five.

According to the NRMA survey, complaints for the New England Highway and Fossickers Way were spread evenly across postcodes, half the grievances received for Werris Creek Rd centred on the section at Currabubula, the Oxley Highway left much to be desired near Walcha and West Tamworth, while the stretch of Thunderbolts Way at Nowendoc and Walcha was also of concern.

NRMA western regional director Graham Blight said the main gripe was road surface and safety with pot holes, unsightly shoulders and a lack of passing lanes.

But low-cost improvements, including additional passing lanes, better road marking, rumble strips and safer turn-offs meant the Newell Highway featured further up the rankings for the first time in years.

“It’s interesting, we’ve campaigned really hard on the Newell over the last seven, eight, 10 years and the [Roads and Maritime Service] has done. I think a pretty good job on the Newell with the money they’ve had,” Mr Blight said.

“We’ve had a good response from the public.”

Traditionally north-south roads have been given funding preference, but east-west roads are starting to gain more attention. 

“Big west roads are now attracting a lot more traffic and a lot more heavy traffic because of the type of development going on in regional areas such as food manufacturing and mining,” he said.

The survey will be used to lobby government at budget time.

“The big thing is, [country people] get disproportionately less money as against our fuel tax that we pay. That grates a bit. We don’t like that,” Mr Blight said.