Walcha councillor Clint Lyon vented his frustration at the current condition of the shire's rural roads in a letter to the editor published in local media last week but when Council met to workshop and agree on the allocation of grant money last Monday, he did not attend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the letter, Walcha's deputy mayor said "it appears the majority of my fellow councillors do not feel the state of our roads are a top priority" and the focus is on the township of Walcha which last year benefited from the bulk of the $1 million Drought Community Fund.
Mr Lyon went on to say the trend seemed to be continuing for this year's allocations which would include - $285,000 for the upgrading of parks, refurbishing amenities, bins, bubblers and barbeque areas; $100,000 for a chlorine mixer, and $120,000 for back-up electricity generation at the water treatment plant.
In a statement to media earlier in the week, Walcha Mayor Eric Noakes had said Walcha Council was acutely aware of the condition of its gravel road network.
"Without seeming to make excuses we have gone from the previous six months where there was virtually no water to grade roads, to a sudden turn around where storms have washed and eroded large sections," Mr Noakes said.
"To grade and form these roads under the current wet weather pattern presents its own issues.
"The Engineering Department has and is taking this chance to stockpile gravel to repair and restore these roads to a trafficable state. In saying this, there is and will be sections of roads that become impassable which will still need reporting to council.
"Council has hired an extra grader plus engaged an external contractor to help keep up with the workload."
Mr Noakes said if it made anyone feel better the Hartford Road (where he resides) is as bad as any.
Walcha Council was considering allocating $250,000 to kerb and guttering from the $1.25 million Bushfire Recovery Grant, Mr Lyon said.
"While I believe it is important to keep improving amenities in the Walcha Township, I feel very strongly that not enough importance is being placed on our rural roads," he wrote.
"It is very frustrating for me, as a councillor, when I know that funds are available to inject into rural roads if council chooses to do so. It is time to stop with excuses and find the solutions."
It is time to stop with excuses and find the solutions
- Walcha Deputy Mayor Clint Lyon
In Mr Lyon's unexplained absence at Monday's workshop and extraordinary meeting of Walcha Council, the projects to receive grant funding were agreed, and council advised these will be announced next week.
It is understood there is little variance in the projects formally adopted to the projects listed by Mr Lyon, other than a reduction in the spend on kerb and guttering.
Last week Walcha Council announced a further $1.25m funding had been allocated to Walcha following the NSW Bushfires for the rebuild and restoration of council assets in areas impacted by fire, and supporting public activities and events.
"Roads that were heavily impacted by the extra activity, including Kangaroo Flat and Brackendale Roads are earmarked for major works and rehabilitation," said Mr Noakes.
"These funds can also be used to support public activities and events to bring the community together. The free entry to the races was an example of the type of activity that will be targeted.
"Council is acutely aware of the necessity to prioritise our gravel road maintenance. The prolonged drought, bushfire activity and subsequent rainfall events have impacted both the road structure and the order in which these roads were to be graded.
"Currently, beside Council plant we have an extra grader hired, and contractors engaged in rehabilitating these roads as fast as possible."
Council is acutely aware of the necessity to prioritise our gravel road maintenance
- Walcha Mayor Eric Noakes
Mr Noakes went on to explain that the current problem is not funding but lack of equipment.
"We have the reserves not used in the drought, but limited availability of suitable plant as neighbouring Councils have the same issues," he said.
"The $1.25M will free up more money to further improve this road network."
The Walcha News contacted Mr Lyon for comment; however, at the time of going to print had not had a response. Walcha Council declined to comment specifically on Mr Lyons published opinions.