Snub to road fix appeal
ANY anticipated fix of the horror Legume to Woodenbong stretch of the Mt Lindesay Rd was dealt another setback last month after an application for $15million in federal funds was knocked back.
Word of the decision by Regional Development Australia (RDA) was received just before the end of a meeting of the Downs To Rivers Action Committee (DTRAC) at the Legume Hall in early June. Present were Tenterfield Shire Council and Southern Downs Regional Council representatives and local community leaders.
DTRAC has been lobbying on the Mt Lindesay Rd for nearly two decades and Tenterfield Shire Council co-ordinated the most recent funding request, with Mayor Peter Petty and general manager Lotta Jackson then vowing to re-apply for the next round of RDA funding.
But it is understood the next round of RDA project funding has a cap of $250,000 and is not felt to be worthwhile.
Hopes of action may now lie with Barnaby Joyce, campaigning for the LNP for the NSW seat of New England, and his Queensland LNP counterpart Bruce Scott in Maranoa, two of the three federal seats which straddle the Mt Lindesay Rd - and a change of government.
The other federal seat in the area, Page, is held by the ALP's Janelle Saffin, a key supporter of Kevin Rudd.
The DTRAC lobby is made up of council and State Government representatives and local community and industry leaders.
