Three traffic bottlenecks within Lismore City Council are among 10 priority projects identified by Regional Cities NSW as part of a pre-budget pitch aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of the freight network across New South Wales.

The bottlenecks are along Union Street, Lismore; Kyogle Road to Rosehill Road and Rifle Range Road in Tuncester; and Coraki Road to Wyrallah Ferry Road in South Gundurimba.

The locations are among 93 across the state’s freight network identified in a new business case commissioned by Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) as responsible for $80 million in lost efficiencies each year.

The Regional Transport Pinch Point Program report found the network’s connectivity and efficiency would be improved with a $346 million investment in 10 priority projects.

RCNSW chair and Lismore City Council Mayor Steve Krieg said resolving the issues at each of the three locations within the local government area would have local and state-wide benefits.

“Resolving bottlenecks like the three identified in our area will get freight moving so it can reach its destination sooner, which can boost the competitiveness of our local businesses and industries,” Cr Krieg said.

“It also helps to improve safety for all road users and strengthen the connections between the regions and our regional cities,” Cr Krieg said.

“This is the first time Regional Cities NSW have collaborated on a project like this. It’s an important issue and we wanted to take a detailed look across the state and see the areas that need upgrades,” Cr Krieg said.

“Everyone who lives in regional NSW can see how many trucks, b-doubles and road trains are on our roads now.”

“Our freight task is growing daily, and action is needed to make sure this growth is safe and efficient for our shared communities and industries,” Cr Krieg said.

The benefits of this approach have been confirmed by an independent panel examining freight policy reform on behalf of Transport for NSW. The Transport for NSW’s Freight Policy Reform: Interim Directions Paper called on the government to review RCNSW’s work as a basis for encouraging a “One Network” approach. 

The paper further noted that “unlike other levels of government, local government has no direct mechanisms to raise funds for road construction and maintenance. This is an issue where heavy vehicles are regular or frequent users of these local roads.”

According to Transport for New South Wales, freight is worth nearly $66 billion to the state’s economy annually, while Infrastructure Australia has forecast the volume of goods transported by road and rail will increase by 80 per cent over 20 years to 2031.

Regional Cities and their LGAs have a combined population of 800,000 or 10 per cent of the population in New South Wales. This number is expected to grow by 150,000 by 2030.

Member cities generate $44 billion in gross regional product annually. The combined workforce is 420,000 workers and there are 75,000 active businesses. Healthcare, social assistance, retail trade, education and training, accommodation and food services represent nearly half of all jobs in member cities.

The 10 priority projects identified in the Regional Transport Pinch Point Program report are: 

●       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)

“This report identifies the location of problem areas in the freight network and quantifies the cost involved to get them fixed,” Cr Krieg said. 

“RCNSW has put the business case to the NSW Government as one of our priorities for the 2025 budget with an initial request of $346 million,” Cr Krieg said.

RCNSW will continue to advocate for this investment in the lead up to the June 2025 State Budget.