Council, over the past month, has continued its lobbying efforts in relation to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for that section of Main Road 92 from Nowra to Nerriga and in relation to the route beyond Nerriga.
The Federal Member for Gilmore, Joanna Cash, has forwarded a letter to the Mayor, following a regional meeting of Mayors and local State and Federal Members, stating it is her view that unless Stages 1(a) - Nowra to Albatross, and 1(b) - Albatross to Nerriga, are solidly supported by all councils in the region, in terms of the social and economic benefits of the project, the project could fail on environmental grounds.
The Mayor of Tallaganda Shire Council has also recently received a response to a letter he forwarded to John Anderson, MP, Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services, concerning the proposed upgrading of Main Road 92. The response from the Minister's Parliamentary Secretary, Senator Ron Boswell, indicated "the $80 million committed by all levels of government will provide a firm basis for development of a significant inland road link in southern NSW."
In response to the Mayor's request for a decision on the route beyond Nerriga, Senator Boswell indicated it was premature for the Commonwealth to consider any further commitment that goes beyond the $34 million they have so far contributed towards the Nerriga section of the road.
Senator Boswell did "flag" the possibility of Council spending some of its Roads to Recovery funding, which Council has currently committed to work on local roads in the Shire, on Main Road 92, which is classified as Regional Road, and funded by the State Government. Council has resolved to write to Senator Boswell informing him that Council has, for many years, spent Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grant funds, that could have been applied to works on local roads, on Main Road 92 and that it proposes to spend a further $600,000, which is approximately two-thirds of its funding from that source, on the road over the next three years.
The Mayor and General Manager also recently participated in a deputation, arranged for Council by Peter Webb, Member for Monaro, to Reba Meagher, Parliamentary Secretary to the State Minister for Roads, Carl Scully, to discuss the road issue. Ms Meagher and representatives of the RTA present at the meeting indicated a commitment to the road proceeding and to ensuring regional social and economic arguments outweigh any environmental concerns the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning may have in relation to the construction of the road.
The Mayor has also received a favourable response to correspondence he forwarded to the ACT Chief Minister, Gary Humphries MLA, seeking support for the road and to the link to Canberra through Braidwood. The ACT Government represents some 300,000 people and the Government's response will be a significant factor when the social and economic factors are weighed up against any environmental concerns.
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