Tara-Bectric Road was officially reopened by Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and Temora Mayor Rick Firman. Photo: MP Steph Cooke.
The recent completion of upgrades to Tara-Bectric Road has provided unrestricted access to heavy vehicles, enabling faster routes in and out of Temora Shire.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke officially reopened the road with Temora Shire Council Mayor Rick Firman.
The $2.5 million upgrade to the 12.7 km road was completed through $2 million from the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Road program, with the remaining funding contributed by Temora Shire Council.
Cr Firman said both Federal and State governments must continue to assist local governments with funding the region’s extensive road networks.
“We simply cannot fund this ourselves and it’s becoming extremely difficult to continue maintaining the high road standards Temora Shire is well known for,” Cr Firman said.
“We’re very pleased the funding model for local government in rural LGAs [local government areas] is being reviewed by the State Government. We all need to genuinely work together to tackle the real issue of financial sustainability.
“Our local Temora Shire farmers and graziers who have their properties out that way will be able to have a far more accessible road to bring their product to town. Others travelling through will also find the improvements most impressive.”
The before and after shots of Tara-Bectric Road upgrades. Photo: Temora Shire Council.
Cr Firman added the team involved in the upgrade work did a ‘top job’ and extended his appreciation to Ms Cooke and the NSW Government for the investment.
Ms Cooke said the ongoing investment in rural and regional road networks was vital to the long-term prosperity of the towns and villages, with robust road infrastructure being the backbone of thriving local communities.
“Ensuring rural and regional communities continue to get their fair share of road funding is vital for the ongoing safety and productivity of our local towns and villages,” Ms Cooke said.
“Our roads are the backbone of the community – it’s how we get to work, school, medical appointments, how we socialise and keep in touch with friends and family. Our roads are vital to our local trade and commerce, as well as tourism – and it’s for these reasons we need roadways that allow people to conduct business, stay connected, and stay safe.
“When you consider that more than one in five jobs in the Cootamundra electorate are directly related to agriculture – that’s over 7000 people – we need to ensure we have the infrastructure in place that supports the ag sector, and allows the world-class goods that we produce, to get to where it needs to go efficiently and without delay.
“Road projects like this here in Temora drive big benefits for safety and the economy in the bush and ensure the network our communities rely on every day is dependable, smooth and safe,” she said.
Upgrades to Tara-Bectric Road included vegetation removal and tree trimming, upgrade/replacement of pipe culvert structures, road formation widening and shoulder strengthening for 8.4 km, reconstruction of failing or rough sections of the centre road pavement, table drain works and bitumen sealing.
The work was significantly delayed due to flooding in 2022.
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