A new report has highlighted a $1.96 billion funding back log needed to bring NSW’s local roads up to a ‘satisfactory condition’. 

The NRMA's annual Funding Local Roads report identifies an increased maintenance backlog across NSW councils, with a 13.2% rise in the backlog deficit between 2014-15 and 2015-16. 

More than 80% of Australia’s roads are maintained by local councils. The council to record the largest roads infrastructure backlog was Wollondilly Council with $42.5 million, Blacktown Council had the second largest, with $42.4 million, and Bankstown Council was the third largest, with $42.2 million. 

NRMA Regional Director Fiona Simson says a deteriorating road network means longer travel times, unsafe roads and lost economic productivity. 

“Local councils have a tough job maintaining local roads, with insufficient funds to cover basic road maintenance such as fixing potholes, gutter repair and repainting faded lines,” Simson says. 

According to the NRMA, the backlog is even more severe in regional NSW, with the regional council deficit rising 17.2% from $1.33 billion in 2014-15 to $1.56 billion in 2015-16. 

Simson says a variety of factors were behind the backlog, including population growth and increased density in regional centres placing pressure on the road network, falling council rates revenue and inadequate funding systems. 

“The lack of an effective long term solution will mean a worsening NSW local and regional road network, with road safety being a significant concern," Simson says. 

“Increasing local roads funding will benefit the broader community, as crashes on local roads represent 75 per cent of the $7.1 billion annual cost of crashes to the NSW economy.”