In January 2020, the state government has established an expert panel to identify up to 15,000 kilometres of council-managed roads in rural and regional areas to hand back to the state under its Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review, easing the burden on local ratepayers.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the panel, chaired by former NRMA president Wendy Machin, is conducting the review of the road classification framework and recommended roads for transfer to the state government.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the project was about ensuring a safe and modern road network for generations to come.

In July-August 2020, the panel conducted extensive consultation with more than 90 per cent of councils and other key stakeholders across the state.

A report listing priority roads requiring urgent attention, or councils experiencing financial hardship in relation to particular roads, is being reviewed with announcements about the outcomes of this priority round will be made in coming months, according to Mr Toole.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is listed as an eligible regional council under the roads take back program.

Council has submitted applications for several local roads under the reclassification option, and three arterial roads for transfer of ownership back to the state government.

Cameron Hawkins, council's group manager of infrastructure planning, is awaiting an update on their application.

"Applications and condition reports were submitted to Transport for NSW to either reclassify some of our local roads as regional, or completely transfer responsibility to state government, under their Roads Reclassification and Transfer review," Mr Hawkins said.

"We submitted several local roads to be considered for reclassified to regional roads. These included Lake Rd, Bago Rd, Bold St, Cameron St, Houston Mitchell Dr, Kew Rd, Lorne Rd, and Pembrooke Rd. We also made joint submissions with MidCoast Council for Wingham and Colling Rd reclassification.

"Ocean Dr along with the sections of the old Pacific Highway, being Hastings River Drive and Telegraph Point Road, were put forward for a transfer of ownership to the state government. These applications were submitted in September 2020.

"No outcomes from this review have been detailed to us as yet, though we were contacted in November 2020 to put more information forward on Lorne Rd to be considered for reclassification in what was referred to as a priority submission. Again we have had no feedback on that application."

Despite a timeline suggesting the panel is expected to deliver its final evaluation report after July, Mr Toole's office said the full round of applications for the Regional Road Transfer and Road Classification Review were due to open later this year.

Shadow Minister for Rural Roads, Mick Veitch attempted to move a motion in parliament forcing the report's release by Friday, May 14, but he was meet with objection by the state government.

Acting Member for Upper Hunter, Sam Farraway said the Nationals have been upfront about the complexity of the process.

"This is a big reform and we're taking the time to get it right," he said. "The independent panel has submitted its interim report with priority recommendations to the minister."

There are concerns the Minister has sat on the interim report for too long without action.

Local Government NSW (LGNSW) president Linda Scott said this week's Upper Hunter by-election was the perfect opportunity to call for the long overdue action, which would bring relief for councils that spent significant amounts of their annual budgets on road maintenance.

"Councils have been made responsible for around 90 per cent of the state's 168,000 kilometres of roads, which is a major act of cost shifting," Cr Scott said.

"This and other cost shifting represents an estimated $850 million burden to councils and their ratepayers each year.

"This is why we were over the moon when we were able to secure a commitment from government in the leadup to the 2019 election that they would take back 15,000 kilometres of NSW roads following LGNSW advocacy.

"What followed after the election was an extensive review of which roads the government should take back, with councils across NSW applying for roads in their LGAs to be considered.

"An independent government panel has now reviewed all the applications and made its recommendations.

"Unfortunately the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, has had this report on his desk for a long time now and has not indicated when or if he will release this report publicly.

"It is well past time for the government to make this report public, start consulting with councils and act on it."

Mr Toole said the "scare-mongering" about the government's commitment to deliver on their promise is unjustified.

"This is a complex process - as Labor's own shadow minister for regional roads has admitted - requiring thorough consultation with a range of stakeholders including local government, freight industry and communities," Mr Toole told the Port News.

"We've established an independent panel of experts to oversee the process, drawing on their experience across local and state government, industry and business.

"The panel delivered its interim report and priority recommendations to government based on submissions received in the priority round earlier this year, and it is currently being reviewed. Announcements about the outcomes of this priority round will be made in coming months."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: