Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould has welcomed a commitment from Independent candidate Judith Hannan to make Wollondilly’s main regional roads State roads if elected, and called on all other candidates in the State election to match this commitment.

Wollondilly Council has been campaigning for a number of years to see the reclassification of Wollondilly’s regional roads as State Roads; specifically, the top three major connecting roads in the Shire - Remembrance Driveway, Menangle Road and Silverdale Road. 

Meeting with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor last week as a candidate, Ms Hannan said that reclassifying these roads was “an absolute easy fix” and committed to having the entirety of Remembrance Driveway, Menangle Road and Silverdale Road within Wollondilly reclassified within 18 months if she is elected.

Mayor Gould said, “I welcome this commitment from Judith Hannan to having our regional roads reclassified if she is elected, and call on all candidates for the NSW election to make the same pledge.”

“Reclassification of these regional roads would make the NSW Government responsible for funding their maintenance and repairs, which would allow Council to redirect the significant amount of its roads budget that currently gets spent on these roads into other local roads across the Shire that badly need work.”

“We currently have a situation where main roads like Remembrance Driveway and Menangle Road are State-managed roads in neighbouring local government areas, but magically become Council managed roads as soon as they enter Wollondilly. We are asking to be treated the same as our neighbours.”

The Mayor has written to all candidates in the upcoming election on behalf of Council and the local community and has met with many of them to discuss the key priorities for Wollondilly for the coming term of government including on the transfer of key roads.

In addition to the commitment from Judith Hannan, Liberal candidate Nathaniel Smith has committed to continue working with Council and continuing the efforts he has made throughout the current term of government to advocate for key roads within the Shire to be made State roads.

Labor Candidate Angus Braiden and Greens Candidate Jason Webster and One Nation Candidate Rebecca Thompson have all expressed strong support for key roads within the Shire being made State roads, but have not made a formal policy commitment at this time.