Shoalhaven City Council is adamant that upgrades to six roads are on track despite Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips questioning the lack of progress from $40 million in Federal Government funding.

Phillips on Thursday called on Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White to publicly update the community on the status of local road upgrades after Council received the $40 million Shoalhaven Roads Package in 2022.

The six roads in question are Forest Road, Callala Beach Road, Callala Bay Road, Culburra Road, the Coonemia/Currarong/Callala Bay Road intersection and the Greenwell Point/Worrigee Road intersection.

“I delivered the funds three years ago, this month, but there continues to be little communication from the Shoalhaven Mayor on the progress of the road works,” she said.

Phillips added “ratepayers just want their roads fixed”.

“It’s beyond belief that I delivered $40 million in the federal budget three years ago, specifically to fix six key local roads, and yet what does the Shoalhaven Mayor have to show for it?

“The least the Mayor could do is tell locals what’s going on and when their roads are going to be fixed.

“It’s a bit rich of the Mayor calling for more money when the funding I delivered three years ago has not been spent.”

Council responded with a statement to say the first instalment of funding was received in July last year and is work is being undertaken in three phases over a three-year period to be completed by late 2027.

As part of the funding agreement with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, the Council project team provides monthly updates to the federal department and quarterly updates to Phillips.

Council said the first phase of scoping was now complete after road safety analysis, road condition analysis, concept sketches and cost estimates were done.

The project team is now in the design phase - that includes flood modelling to improve the resilience of access to towns and villages - which will determine the delivery schedule of the road projects.

“The scoping phase has involved a lot of surveying, research and analysis which may appear like work is not progressing, but it’s certainly on track and part of the process of major infrastructure projects,” said acting director of city services, Kevin Norwood.

“A thorough scoping phase ensures that the funding is allocated to the areas that need it most and the areas that will provide the greatest benefit to the community.

“We now move to the second phase which includes detailed design for all sites, land acquisition process for Worrigee intersection and flood studies on impacted roads."

The works schedule will be finalised and publicly available in February.

Residents will start to see action in March when the electrical and water utility relocations are set to begin at the two intersection sites.

The project will improve the durability and safety of the roads through pavement reconstruction, widening, signage, line marking, guardrail and intersection upgrades.

More information is readily available on Council’s project page.