State of Tamworth Regional Council's rural roads leaves country people forgotten, says fourth generation Duri farmer

Woodlands Road and Lees Road, which are managed by the Tamworth Regional Council (TRC), have been the subject of recent pain for local landholders.

One of those is fourth generation farmer Stan Lee, whose property 'Pine Farm' neighbours Baiada's Duri chicken farm.

Mr Lee said over the past six months with the wet weather, the condition of both roads has been "shocking".

"There's two cement causeways and it's cutting out either side of the causeways up to a foot deep, which is dangerous if nobody knows it and comes down, they're likely to have an accident and go into the gully," he said.

"There used to be a bit of a hump in the road to take the water off the side of the road into people's properties, but that's been graded out.

"Now, instead of the water coming off the road every 300 to 400 metres, it's running over a kilometre down the actual road and there are two wheel tracks that are a foot deep for a kilometre."

Mr Lee said despite the "neglect", TRC was happy to grade the roads to Baiada's neighbouring chicken farm "more than three times a year because they're a big employer".

"Last time I met them up there when they were doing it and they wouldn't come past Baiada's gate to service the four farmers that are a kilometre down the road," he said.

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TRC's manager of infrastructure and works, Murray Russell, told the Leader there are a number of causeways on Woodlands Road that have required regular attention over the last year in response to storm activity and persistent wet weather.

He said council continues to maintain its road network, on a needs basis, and denied claims of any favouritism.

"For example, this may see busy roads maintained more often than lower traffic roads," he said.

"Council does not prioritise road works based on the requirements of any individual business."

Neighbouring landholder Diane Sanderson said residents are getting sick of driving through built up water and mud.

"Trucks and vehicles have left gouges in the road like you wouldn't believe, which is supposed to be a dry weather access road," she said.

"When we were under Parry Shire, they would come along and grade it properly. Now, since we're under Tamworth council, the grader only comes around once a year.

"Every time it rains, the dirt is coming down the table drains and filling up in that area, so all the water stays in the dip.

"The people in the country get forgotten".

TRC said in a statement there are a number of causeways within the shire and council continues to attend to maintenance issues as they arise.

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