The NSW government has today (Tuesday 22 November) announced a plan of attack to fast-track the rebuilding of flood-impacted roads in NSW.

Around two hundred workers and their heavy equipment will be sent throughout the flood-impacted areas of the Central West and Murrumbidgee regions to bolster local road repair efforts.

Councils have estimated that there is at least 10,000 kilometres of flood-damaged roads across NSW - which will take many months to repair.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Sam Farraway says that the flood-impacted roads have been in dire need of help.

"We are bringing in 200 people from Transport for NSW and contractors on a fly-in, fly-out basis, excavators, trucks and bobcats from around the state to support councils and existing crews with the massive task of repairing and restoring roads."

"Transport NSW is continuing to coordinate access and reopen roads as it is safe to do so. It is also supporting freight access to paddocks and facilitating emergency resupply of essential services such as gas."

Many roads are still inundated by flood waters making it difficult for crews to assess the damage, let alone allow access by heavy machinery.

Government representatives say the focus for now is to get moving on the pothole and pavement repairs and drainage maintenance until repair work can be completed.

NSW Farmers Business, Economics and Trade Committee chair John Lowe welcomes the announcement however questions remain about how long the rebuild will take.

“To their credit the authorities are listening to communities and providing support, the problem is that there’s just so much work to be done,” Mr Lowe said.

“Rural people are dismayed at how quickly the road network crumbled, and it’s pretty clear that we need to rebuild better so we can avoid these sorts of headaches in the future."

“We need to get rural communities and businesses up and running again, so we can do our part in the food and fibre supply chain.”

This road in the Coonamble shire is just one of hundreds - even thousands - requiring major repair and rebuilding. PHOTO: D Schieb

Mr. Lowe says that the roads might need more than just an additional two-hundred workers to rebuild the network, echoing calls by Barwon MP Roy Butler to seek help from the Australian Defence Force

“We need resilient communities and resilient roads, but to get there we may well need military engineering support to help get back on track,” Mr Lowe said.

“Rural people are dismayed at how quickly the road network crumbled, and it’s pretty clear that we need to rebuild better so we can avoid these sorts of headaches in the future."

“We need to get rural communities and businesses up and running again, so we can do our part in the food and fibre supply chain.”

The NSW Government has also announced an emergency fund of $15 million for urgent road repairs in the Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Parkes, and Walgett Shires triggering queries from other impacted local government areas.