Last Monday Walcha Council’s mayor, Bill Heazlett and general manager, Jack O’Hara, joined Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay to meet with Minister for Roads Eric Roozendaal, senior advisors and the RTA’s Peter Collins.

Mr Torbay said he arranged the meeting between the major stakeholders in order to discuss the best way to secure an additional $1.2 million for the completion of works on Topdale Road.

“The Minister certainly listened to the concerns of the council and the importance of this link road between Tamworth and the coast was certainly made clear at the meeting,” Mr Torbay said. “At the moment there is just 4.3km of this strategic road between Tamworth and Taree unsealed.

“Topdale Road is a strategic road that is also a school bus route and vital for business, in particular the timber industry.

“In October last year the Government announced an allocation of $600,000 over four years with council detailing how they are planning projects such as widening and and the preparation of the road to add value to the funding.

“At the end of the meeting the Minister indicated that he would consider the additional request.”

Mr Heazlett said he felt the meeting was positive and was pleased to have had the opportunity to put Walcha Council’s case directly to the Minister.

“We certainly appreciated the Minister making time in his schedule to meet with us and we thank Richard Torbay for making the meeting happen,” he said.

“In addition to the NSW Government funding announced last year, Walcha Council at that time also committed a further $200,000, but we estimate an additional $1.6 million is needed to ensure the final sealing of this road and council have proposed a contribution toward that cost of $400,000.”