Tamworth Regional council has been trying to fix up Retreat Road as long as Col Murray has been in local government.
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Thanks to a cash injection care of new joint State and Commonwealth funding, the dirt road will finally be sealed, he said on Tuesday.
The money means the sealing of a 7-kilometre section of the Retreat Road between Bendemeer and Kingstown, plus a replacement of the Retreat Bridge. The road will be opened to B-double trucks.
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Tamworth Mayor Col Murray said residents had been lobbying for an upgrade of Retreat Road since "shortly after I joined council many, many years ago."
"We tried to chip away at this road and do some incremental upgrades. We got a little bit done, but it was just beyond the reach of local government.
"This is where it's really great that our Australian government and state governments step in to help rural residents."
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson announced on Monday that the notorious dirt road section of Kelvin Road will get a $4 million touch-up as part of the scheme.
Locals have long lobbied for an upgrade of the road, complaining of dust and safety issues caused by the rural by-way.
Walcha residents will win a $270,000 rehabilitation of the Glen Morrison Road, with government also spending $180,000 to seal a section of Geraldine Road.
Kangaroo Flat Road and Moona Plains Road will also receive upgrades.
Federal MP Barnaby Joyce said the money would flow to every last corner of his electorate
"In the centre of town and out in the edges we're making sure we're getting further delivery for New England, further roads fixed, further roads sealed, a better standard of life; stir up the economy," he said.
Some 258 projects across 83 local government areas have won money as part of round one of the scheme. There will be 20 roads upgraded in his electorate at a combined cost of $24 million.
Asked if the electorate had received more than its fair share, Mr Joyce vowed to print an article accusing him of pork-barreling on his how-to-vote cards.
"I'm really happy with the job I'm doing," he said, giving credit to his state counterparts.
"We're delivering for our electorate.
"People say it's unfair what New England is getting! I was reading one of the articles down in one of the paper's in Newcastle. I think I should put that on how to vote cards."
The state taxpayer will fund the bulk of the $500 million scheme, with the Commonwealth topping it up to the tune of $191 million. Road upgrades have to be completed within 2 years under the terms of round one of the program.
Mayor Col Murray said it was positive to see Federal and State governments collaborate to improve country roads.