MEDIA RELEASE
OIL PRICES TO CONTINUE TO PUT THE BRAKES ON
UNDER PRESSURE FREIGHT NETWORK
Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) is has advised the NSW Government that rising oil prices and imminent interest rate rises are continuing to weigh down an already under-pressure freight system and flailing productivity across regional NSW.
Chair of RCNSW and Mayor of Lismore, Cr Steve Krieg said the work done by Regional NSW showed that the freight system, worth nearly $66 billion to the state’s economy, had bottlenecks across the network in regional NSW restricting national productivity.
“If we add rising fuel costs to a freight system already weakened by widespread bottlenecks, there can only one way for productivity to go and that is backward,” he said.
“Oil prices may not be in our sphere of influence, but the bottlenecks are.
“We need urgent action on the levers we can control, and this means it is time for State and Federal governments to back small-scale infrastructure projects that will have a lasting impact on economic growth,” Cr. Krieg said.
The Regional Cities NSW Freight Bottle Neck Project identified solutions to improve load limits on bridges, address under-loading of higher productivity vehicles and the need for detours and longer freight routes.
The project aims to improve supply chain reliability and target freight costs that are pushing up the cost of goods for everyday households.
“Regional Cities NSW has already done the work preparing a business case for known freight bottlenecks that also impacted road safety in our regions - we have identified 93 known bottlenecks, with the first 10 priority projects ready to go.
“A green light on the 10 priority projects would set NSW on its way delivering $80 million in efficiencies today, better supporting the 80% increase in freight movements across the network anticipated by Infrastructure Australia by 2031,” he said.
“This isn’t about spending money we don’t have, it’s about reallocating money we do have on things that make the economy work better, not worse.
“As regional leaders will tell you, there is a lot more bang for your buck in regional NSW.
“Let’s also not forget that regional roads are shared, freight driving alongside your school bus, workers just going from A to B and families going to the shops.
“Almost three-quarters of NSW road fatalities occur outside of Sydney and as freight volumes grow safety risks compound unless infrastructure keeps pace,” he said.
RCNSW has identified 10 priority projects requiring an investment of $346 million.
Armidale: Lambs Avenue / O'Connor Road / Dangar Street / Railway Parade / Kentucky Street (congestion)
Dubbo: Boothenba Road / Newell Highway (safety)
Dubbo: Wheelers Lane (accessibility)
Dubbo: Boothenba Road (congestion)
Goulburn/Marulan: Hume Highway (congestion)
Goulburn: Windellama Road (connection issues from the Hume Highway)
Lismore: Union Street (accessibility)
South Gundurimba: Coraki Road to Wyrallah Ferry Road (accessibility)
Tamworth: Country Road and Burgmanns Lane (alt. heavy vehicle route)
Tuncester: Kyogle Road to Rosehill Road and Rifle Range Road (accessibility)
More about the 10 projects can be read here.