Kyogle Council Ramps Up Campaign to Seal Gravel School Bus Routes
Council seeks $15 million a year to improve road safety and reliability
Kyogle Council is calling on residents to support a major advocacy campaign aimed at securing long-term government funding to seal all school bus routes that currently remain unsealed across the local government area.
The Council is seeking $15 million annually from the NSW and Australian governments to progressively upgrade and seal around 15 kilometres of gravel roads each year, with the priority focused on improving the safety and reliability of roads used by school buses.
Mayor Cr Danielle Mulholland said sealing the region’s gravel bus routes would deliver lasting benefits for local families, businesses and rural communities.
“Upgrading our gravel school bus routes will provide safer, all-weather access for students and families, while also improving conditions for all road users,” Cr Mulholland said.
“It will strengthen connectivity across our rural communities and support greater economic productivity by improving the reliability of our road network.”
She said Council simply did not have the financial capacity to fund upgrades of this scale on its own.
“Council does not have the financial capacity to undertake upgrades of this scale on its own, which is why government funding is so important,” she said.
“I encourage the community to get behind Council’s gravel advocacy campaign and help us show the NSW and Australian governments just how important these road upgrades are for the future of our local government area.”
Kyogle Council maintains an extensive rural road network stretching approximately 1,100 kilometres, including 725 kilometres of unsealed roads. Of those, around 240 kilometres are used as school bus routes, carrying students to and from school each day.
Many of these roads were originally built more than 50 years ago to standards that no longer meet today’s traffic demands. Increased vehicle numbers, larger farm machinery and heavier freight vehicles have accelerated wear and deterioration across the network.
Council says maintaining such a large rural road system has become increasingly difficult as construction costs continue to rise while the region’s relatively small rate base limits its ability to fund major infrastructure upgrades.
Sealing key school bus routes would not only improve safety during wet weather but also reduce ongoing maintenance costs, minimise road closures and provide more reliable access for emergency services, local businesses and rural residents.
The advocacy campaign forms part of Council’s broader push to secure sustainable infrastructure funding for regional communities that rely heavily on extensive rural road networks.
With strong community backing, Kyogle Council hopes to demonstrate the urgent need for long-term investment, ensuring safer travel for school children while strengthening transport links that support agriculture, local businesses and regional economic growth.
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