A pothole and road repair blitz will soon start across regional New South Wales, including pavement renewal and resurfacing on the New England and Hume highways.
Fast-tracked funding will increase state road maintenance funding in the regions to $1.25 billion this financial year, with key works already underway.
The investment will deliver safer roads, from Broken Hill to Bega, ensuring regional communities get their fair share of road maintenance investment.
As much as $155 million has been brought forward to 2025-26 by the State Government to prioritise renewal projects, including key corridors that have been under significant pressure due to unprecedented weather.
Some 150 new permanent staff members have been hired, taking Transport for NSW’s locally-based regional maintenance team to more than 2000 workers.
Another 75 regionally-based apprentices and trainees will start in 2026.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns said regional and rural communities deserve their fair share of investment and upgrades to local roads.
“This announcement is about getting money out the door and boots on the ground sooner rather than later,” Mr Minns said.
“Following droughts, bushfires and floods we are hearing loud and clear that there needs to be more done to repair damaged roads and keep communities connected in the wake of natural disasters.
“We’ve made a start, but we know there’s still more to do and that’s what this accelerated funding will help deliver.”
Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said the people and businesses of NSW rely on the road network.
“I’m incredibly proud of the road warriors at Transport for NSW,” she said.
“Long after storms or bushfires pass, recovery continues for our teams. Whether plugging potholes or undertaking massive multi-year infrastructure rebuilds, the work never ends.
“I want to thank all our frontline road recovery and maintenance crews. Their nearly four million hours of work is an investment in the future of NSW to ensure a safe, strong and reliable network for motorists, commuters and freight operators.”
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said most of the road crews are locals making a critical difference to ensure reliable, safe roads for anyone living, working or travelling in regional New South Wales.
“Regional NSW often missed out under the Liberal-National Government which focused its attention on Sydney mega-projects but this Government is redressing the balance,” she said.
NSW Country Mayors Association chair Rick Firman thanked Minister Aitchison for the investment in regional, remote and rural communities.
“Obviously our local citizens will be the ultimate beneficiaries of our Government’s decision to prioritise the road network in the bush, which is effectively our lifeblood,” he said.
