Kyogle Council is calling on the community to support its campaign for increased state and federal funding to seal all school bus routes that are currently gravel roads.
The council is seeking $15 million a year to progressively upgrade and seal 15 kilometres of road annually, with the aim of improving the safety and reliability of school bus services.
Mayor Danielle Mulholland said sealing the routes would deliver significant safety, social and economic benefits for the region.
“Upgrading our gravel school bus routes will provide safer, all-weather access for students and families, while also improving conditions for all road users,” Mulholland said.
“It will strengthen connectivity across our rural communities and support greater economic productivity by improving the reliability of our road network.
“Council does not have the financial capacity to undertake upgrades of this scale on its own, which is why government funding is so important.
“I encourage the community to get behind Council’s gravel advocacy campaign and help us show the NSW and Australian governments just how important these road upgrades are for the future of our local government area (LGA).”
Kyogle Council maintains about 1100 kilometres of rural roads, including 725 kilometres of unsealed roads. Around 240 kilometres of those unsealed roads are used by school buses.
Much of the road network was built more than 50 years ago to standards that no longer meet current demands. Increased traffic volumes and heavier vehicles have accelerated deterioration across the network.
The council says its limited rate base, combined with rising road construction costs, means it cannot fund the required upgrades without government support.
Through its advocacy campaign, the council hopes to demonstrate strong community backing for long-term state and federal funding to seal key school bus routes across the Kyogle local government area.
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