SOUTHERN Downs Councillor Jamie Mackenzie has welcomed the announcement of more funds to upgrade the Mt Lindesay Rd between Legume and Woodenbong.

New South Wales Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay and Member for Lismore Thomas George announced on Wednesday the NSW Government would provide an extra $250,000 to continue to upgrade the road.

"Bring it on," Cr Mackenzie said.

"It is a start, as there is a desperate need to fully upgrade what is a unique intra-regional highway that connects three Australian tourist icons - Byron Bay, Stanthorpe and Toowoomba.

"The Woodenbong Road has not changed much in decades but the volume of traffic has increased.

"Ironically, it is so bad that motorists drive slowly to stay alive, yet funding goes to priority areas where statistics show more deaths and population growth."

Cr Mackenzie said the road was holding back the region.

"The Woodenbong Road is featured in motor magazines as one the prettiest but worst roads in Australia," he said.

"The value of the road is underestimated - from Dad's kitchen window in Killarney, we see medical patients, university students, workers, commuters, backpackers and holiday-makers travelling from Lismore to Toowoomba and back."

Cr Mackenzie said grain, cattle, Lucerne hay, agricultural equipment and other Southern Downs products regularly go down this dangerous route.

"We are uniquely positioned in a corner of the bush just over the hills from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Northern Rivers fruit bowl," he said.

"Improving the Woodenbong Road presents opportunities to promote the Southern Downs' fabulous climate, history and local produce as a compliment to what is on offer at Byron Bay."

Minister Gay said the NSW Government provided $2.38 million to help Tenterfield Shire Council upgrade an 8.2 kilometre section of Mt Lindesay Road.

"On top of the $2.38 million grant, a further $250,000 will be provided to council from the New South Wales Government's regional REPAIR program as a 50 per cent contribution," Mr Gay said.