26th March, 2014.

The much-lauded Roads to Recovery funding program is in danger of folding because of opposition from Labor and the Greens.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Hunter John Williams said the Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon joined his colleagues in opposing the extension of the Roads to Recovery program beyond June 30 this year.

Senator Williams said the program had been extremely valuable to councils in Hunter in the past five years.

Upper Hunter Shire had received $4.30 million, Singleton Council $2.73 million, Muswellbrook Shire $2.04 million, Cessnock City Council $3.82 million and Maitland City Council $2.84 million.

Senator Williams said the Australian Local Government Association described Roads to Recovery as ‘an outstanding partnership between the National and local governments’, and the Mayor of Upper Hunter Shire Clr. Michael Johnsen says he is bitterly disappointed that Mr. Fitzgibbon would seek to block the program’s extension.

Clr.Johnsen said it is critical it continues, a view he feels would be held by every Council in Hunter.

Senator Williams said whilst the legislation passed the House of Representatives it is at risk of being blocked in the Senate and that would mean the Roads to Recovery program would be terminated.