The NSW Nationals in Government will invest $50 million to help councils across regional and rural NSW fix the increasing number of potholes brought on by ongoing wet weather.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the new Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round, our region’s councils can apply for funding to help address their highest priority pothole repairs.

“We have seen our local and regional road networks crumble under the pressure of ongoing and unprecedented wet weather, which is a significant concern for local families, farmers and the freight industry,” Mr Anderson said.

“Our communities have been left frustrated by the never-ending repair work and our councils have been bearing the cost, which is why the NSW Government is stepping in to provide critical financial support.

“This fund will help ease the pressure on councils and boost the resources they can draw on to improve road safety in the region quicker.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said NSW has had more than its fair share of natural disasters and extreme weather and that more than 135,000 potholes have been repaired on State roads in regional NSW since February.

“We certainly have plenty more potholes that still require attention, particularly on council-managed roads, which is why our Government is putting more money on the table for councils to repair potholes on the roads regional communities use every day,” Mr Farraway said.

“This funding is available to help every regional council across the state to carry out emergency repairs and would fix roughly more than 420,000 potholes on their roads.”

The new funding builds on the $500 million invested by the NSW Government through the Fixing Local Roads program to help regional councils repair, maintain and seal local roads across the state.

Funding under the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round is available to 95 regional councils and authorities to help repair potholes on regional and local roads. Work must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024.

Applications for funding are open for two weeks from today with funding announced in November so councils can begin work as soon as possible.