ALLEVIATING the $300 million road infrastructure backlog in western NSW is crucial for improving productivity and safety in the region, according to three candidates for the federal seat of Parkes.
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The NRMA this week released the Funding Local Roads report, including startling backlog figures for NSW councils and eight recommendations for addressing the issue.
Recommendations included rebuilding engineering capacity in regional councils and fast-tracking or reforming government funding programs.
Incumbent MP and Nationals candidate Mark Coulton, Greens candidate Matt Parmeter and Labor candidate Kate Stewart all welcomed the report, and said their parties had policies in place for maintaining the standard of roads in western NSW.
"Last year we tripled the amount that councils got for the Roads to Recovery Program," Mr Coulton said.
"We've made big commitments to build the inland rail.
"We also put a lot of extra money into country roads into my electorate for the bridges renewal program and there's $88 million going into the Newell Highway [near] Moree."
The Labor Party is still releasing its road infrastructure policies, but Ms Stewart said the National party has failed western NSW.
"The National party have repeatedly failed at a federal level to provide leadership and to actually put forward meaningful, cost-effective and accurate road main plans which will deliver adequate road services," she said.
"The Nationals generally have control of the infrastructure portfolio or a proportion of it but they can't do anything about the roads?
"So it suggests to me, they just don't care or if they do care they're just completely ineffective."
The Greens are also yet to announce their election freight and transport plan, but Mr Parmeter said the party believes in moving freight off the roads and onto rail to improve productivity and safety.
"The Greens strongly support the Inland Rail proposal," Mr Parmeter said.
"Less trucks on the highway means the highway lasts longer and it means that the highway is easier to drive on."
The Labor Party is also still releasing polices, but Ms Stewart said the Labor party has a very firm commitment to infrastructure, including roads.
The NRMA's recommendations also included returning a greater share of the fuel excise levy to regional councils, more collaboration between councils and the private sector, expanding the Local Government Infrastructure Backlog Fund and providing Local Government with low interest region specific infrastructure and investment funds.
"Some of those I agree with... I think some of those issues are something for individual councils to work out and there's some regional organisations of councils pooling their expertise and the resources they have," Mr Coulton said.
"We've still got large farming businesses who are severely hamstrung by not being able to conduct business in wet weather.
"We need to make sure that we have actually got the roads that can deliver productivity in inland NSW."
Mr Parmeter, who has worked as an engineer for about 30 years, said he was particularly pleased with the recommendation regarding boosting regional capacity.
"That was a good one to see there," he said.
"That talks about rebuilding engineering capacity in regional councils and state government to ensure that the money that is spent, we get the best bang for our buck that we can."
Ms Stewart said the Labor Party had a strong history of delivering infrastructure projects, including programs offering funds to local government for certain projects.
"Labor governments, we have a very firm commitment to infrastructure at all levels and that includes roads," she said.
"The Labor Party is a firm believer in making sure that all Australians can get from point A to point B with a reasonable level of safety.
"We are very pleased that the NRMA has pointed out that roads in western NSW need a bit of work."