Ulan Road campaigner Colleen Holland dropped in to Mid-Western Regional Council’s open day on Wednesday to thank councillors for their support – and make a few suggestions about how they might spend the $9.5 million from the State Government’s Resources for Regions Fund.
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Mrs Holland’s petition for State Government funding for the Ulan Road, signed by more than 11,000 people, was instrumental in achieving funding for the Ulan Road, announced last week.
At council on Wednesday, she thanked the council, community, media and everyone who signed the petition for a “super extraordinary effort”.
“I’m truly proud and appreciative of everyone,” she said.
But Mrs Holland reminded Mid-Western Regional Council that the petition to State Parliament had called for funding for Cope Road as well as Ulan Road.
“A lot of people travel via Cope Road and Ulan Road to the Central Coast,” she said.
Mrs Holland also asked council how it planned to use the funding for Ulan Road, and suggested that work should include a safe rest stop somewhere between Mudgee and the Golden Highway.
General manager Warwick Bennett said council would begin negotiating next week with the Department of Infrastructure and Planning and mines, who will also provide funding for the road, to determine what work will be undertaken on Ulan Road.
Council would advise the community of plans for the work through its Community News and local media, he said.
Work on the upgrade will begin next year.
As result of a motion from Cr John Webb, council resolved to negotiate for the inclusion of passing lanes in the Ulan Road upgrade.
Cr Webb said as a member of the RFS, he had attended a number of accident recently in which overtaking was a factor.
He said with slow vehicles such a stock trucks causing “angst” to drivers keen to get home after a 12 hour shift, combined with the sheer volume of traffic, drivers were taking risks.
“Do you think that bloke in the hotted up ute will wait for a passing lane?” Mayor Des Kennedy asked.
Cr Webb replied: “Probably not, but we have got to try”.
Mr Bennett said council had allocated $1 million to Cope Road in its budget and also planned to allocate part of council’s $1 million from the Cobbora Transition Fund for this road.
