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www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
Monday, July 17, 2023
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PRECINCT DESIGN AN AWARD WINNER THE Wangaratta Railway Precinct project has taken out two state awards, offering a “new benchmark” in regional Victorian transport hub design. The awards announced on Friday evening are the heaviest praise yet for the $8.4m revitalisation project. Full story page 3 PHOTO: Sarah Pannell
Female firefighters hone their skills Page 5
Planting for sustainability Page 14
Rovers, Magpies stay in top four
SPORT Sport
GAP IN THE ROADS Council to call for additional funding g to address region’s g road network
WANGARATTA Council will call for additional federal funding to address a road network “shortfall” which has only been exacerbated by recent extreme weather events. The Rural City of Wangaratta (RCoW) will be one of seven local councils attending a federal inquiry in Wodonga today, in order to engage directly with the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development,
BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au
Infrastructure and Transport, of which Independent Indi MP Helen Haines is a member. Council director community and infrastructure, Marcus Goonan, said there were
a number of contributing factors to the current condition of roadways throughout the North East, and a new funding model to support proactive works was required. “Impacts to the condition of regional roads goes beyond the effects of weather; the current rate capping environment, extreme inflation, and the significant regional growth since the
pandemic makes maintaining roads, bridges and drainage to the current standard impossible,” he said. “The occurrence of more extreme weather events means the shortfall in funding is only exacerbated. “Regional councils need to be funded at an appropriate level to maintain the existing road networks and ensure standards are consistently adequate.
“The damage caused to roads and bridges is mainly due to the inability to complete required proactive maintenance works, including cleaning drains, minor bridge repair, sealing and re-sheeting roads. “Until there is financial means and resource capacity, the resilience of the network will be held to ransom.” Mr Goonan said additional funding would enable council
to work proactively, and also reduce subsequent claims under state and federal disaster support schemes. “Greater funding for proactive maintenance of assets will not only reduce the impacts of climate change on these assets, it would also reduce claims through the federal and state disaster funding arrangements,” he said. ■ Continued page 3
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