Lachlan roads will see better days after the NSW government confirmed it injected $9 million for the local shire under the Tripartite Agreement Pilot Program.

The agreement, signed between Lachlan Shire Council, NSW Reconstruction Authority and Transport for NSW in June this year, is aimed at giving better funding certainty for disaster repair projects, known as Essential Public Asset Restorations (EPAR) under the program.

It's part of $64 million confirmed by the NSW government for road and infrastructure repair, shared between six western councils including Forbes, Parkes and Lithgow, which they can access before works begin.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the agency provides "direct support to each council with the preparation" of project funding applications.

"Once a tripartite agreement is executed, councils make an application to Transport for NSW, as the administering agency," the spokesperson said.

"Transport for NSW then makes a recommendation to the NSW Reconstruction Authority and the funding is then released to council.

"Once a council application is finalised and agreed, the funding receipt usually happens within weeks."

Lachlan Shire covers about 4400 kilometres of roads, around 1,000 kilometres of them sealed. PHOTO: Lachlan Shire Council

The agency confirmed Lachlan Shire received the $9 million in June 2024, with more expected to follow as other EPARs are approved.

There are currently 19 councils taking part in the Tripartite Agreement.

Previously, councils have paid flood repair costs upfront and been reimbursed under the NSW and Australian Governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

However, western councils have raised concern over long processing times, with senior Coonamble Shire staff telling a state inquiry into local government in Dubbo on 28 June that they had to halt road repairs to remain financially sustainable.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said the agreements speed up road repair.

“For too long councils have struggled to get timely access to disaster road recovery funding, so the new Tripartite Agreements were introduced to speed up the process," she said in a press release on

“Regional communities will now be able to rebuild roads and restore vital transport links more quickly thanks to the collaborative efforts of councils, Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.”

“The Tripartite Agreements have been a huge success as Transport for NSW was able to deliver $296 million into councils’ bank accounts in the last three months alone.

“With the $3.3 billion in the budget allocated over the next four years for natural disaster road recovery funding, we will be rolling out funding faster than ever before."