YARRIAMBIACK Shire Council has denied paying to upgrade a Murtoa road, despite repeated requests from farmers and offers to pay for half the works.
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Murtoa’s Paul and Tim Petering wrote to council requesting it consider gravelling Riding Boundary Road, which serves as a direct route between the family’s farming properties.
Paul Petering said the road was three kilometres, but was impassable in wet weather and the alternative route was 20 kilometres.
This was the third time the request had been put before council, with councillors previous denying the request in 2009 and 2016 because the cost was too high to justify for the amount of traffic on the road.
Mr Petering said he was prepared to pay for 50 per cent of the works required to lift the standard of the road to an all-weather access road.
He estimated the cost at $81,000, while council estimated the cost at $76,759.
Mr Petering said the road was well used by other farmers in the area.
“I know it’s a lot of money, but a lot of other people would benefit from this other than ourselves,” he said.
“This road is use primarily by farmers who have enterprises in the Lubeck area and move machinery up to Minyip through winter and summer.
“Winter is when the road is an issue – you can drive anywhere when it’s drive.”
Mr Petering said the upgraded road would mean there was less heavy farming equipment on the main roads.
However, council agreed that Mr Petering should pay for all the costs of the upgrade.
Mayor Graeme Massey said the decision meant Mr Petering could now choose whether to pay come back to council with another proposal.
Cr Helen Ballentine said it was important farmers in the shire were heard.
“I feel very strongly that this idea of co-contribution is the way forward to solve some of our serious issues throughout the shire,” she said.
“We don’t have a shire without our farmers.
“However, if we can renegotiate, that might be the best option.”
Technical officer Nathan McLean said if council agreed to upgrade the road, it would have to pay for ongoing maintenance costs.
“These costs are unknown and could be high due to the proposed heavy vehicle traffic,” he said.
Cr Tom Hamilton said council needed to take into consideration how much the road was worth.
“It’s a big step for a farmer to put $40,000 on the table and it shouldn’t be looked down upon,” he said.
“But the ongoing costs could be a big issue.”