Last NSW State Highway to be sealed.
All NSW State Highways are now sealed, the Mount Manara stretch of the Ivanhoe-Wilcannia section of the Cobb Highway having the honour of being the last section, and it may be that NSW is the first state to have all highways sealed.
Hon. Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, in a refreshing move away from the usual speech, began by acknowledging the work of previous governments and all those involved in the long campaign, including Duncan Gaye, and other former National party members, current member Roy Butler, Central Darling Shire, and the community for driving the project and maintaining the pressure on various governments over many years to see the project completed. Most of all, she praised the many workers who had endured the heat, cold, dust, mud and set-backs to complete the road.
Peter Black, entertaining and erudite as always, also gave credit to former political colleagues from both sides of the house. Peter made special mention of former Wilcannia Tiger player William “Bill” Murray who worked on the DMR many years ago, spending a lot of time, according to Peter, putting rocks onto the Cobb Highway. Peter, a former Rugby League player, related how William became a member of the South Australian Rugby League team who played against Victoria in a lead up to the second ever State of Origin game, playing full back instead of 5/8th.
John Elliott, former member of the National Party NSW Central Council, a long-time sparring partner of Peter, going back to the Wilcannia Tigers days, spoke on the difference the sealing of the Cobb Highway will make to the lives of those who live in its catchment. John remembers battling the old road down to Ivanhoe to catch the old Silver City Comet, to get to the Red Bend College at Forbes. John gave credit to the staying power of those who maintained the pressure on Governments, as they came and went.
Minister Aitchison, speaking after the official opening, said that the Government’s focus would now be on road repairs, something Local Governments have been very vocal about since the recent spell of above average rain and resulting flood damage. The latest budget has given the Regional Energy Recovery and Resilience Facility a bucket $670m, of which $74m is allocated for the Barwon electorate, including the unincorporated area. With all highways now sealed the government will move onto their Regional Integrated Transport planning, looking at where people need to go for essential services such as health education jobs and social activities. This may lead to changes in current road classifications which divides roads into State, Regional and Local and will provide the basis for further road improvement works, such as dual and overtaking lanes and more parking for heavy vehicles.
This article appeared in Wilcannia News, November 2023.
