This precipitated a response from other readers, one a long-time Ardnaree Road resident, who described the road as hideous. 

We put it to the people’s representatives - Young Shire Council - many of whom sought election on a platform of improved rural roads to see how they feel about the issue...

Deputy Mayor Cr Ben Cooper

Last week Australia Post mail contractor and former councillor, Debbie Prest, expressed her frustration at the state of some of the shire’s rural roads. 

This precipitated a response from other readers, one a long-time Ardnaree Road resident, who described the road as hideous. 

We put it to the people’s 

representatives - Young Shire Council - many of whom sought election on a platform of improved rural roads to see how they feel about the issue...

Cr Brian Mullany

Says the roads are the way they are because the funding from the state government just isn’t there.

He said he’s recently driven around Australia and “NSW regional roads are not up to scratch with those in Queensland but they’re better than in the Northern Territory”.

But he said until Young gets better funding “we just can’t do it” and people need to “realise that”.

“Our state government is not funding us enough and I want to know why the roads are more of a priority in Queensland than in NSW.”

He said Young has different circumstances compared to other areas, with it having better sub-soil and more rainfall that affects how the roads are done.

“I live on a dirt road and I would prefer there not to be potholes but it’s the standard I have to put up with. I don’t go whinging to the paper about it.”

Cr John McGregor

Says council was too stuck on short-term solutions, leading to a backlog of road issues.

“There’s not enough money and when we do spend it we’re not spending it in the right way,” he said.

“Temora Road’s a disgrace and very dangerous…

“We’ve got the power to try to get things done, we’ve just got to get more money available, no more doing work in a half way fashion.

 “I don’t think they’ve been using the funds as they should.

“We’ve got to do something it’s not right. Going to Weddin Shire you know you’re in another shire. 

“Debbie Prest is spot on... I congratulate her on having the guts to say what she has said.”

Cr John Walker

SAYS council’s new plan documenting all the roads in the shire will see the gradual improvement of the town’s roads.

“That is a giant step forward done through the asset committee.”

“We need to implement that plan. I believe that will be done as budget allows.

“Every road is programmed and prioritised….”

He said this planning will work in Young’s favour with changes to the way state and federal governments issue funding. 

“They have to work hard to have the plans done and submitted to government…to me is far better than just ad hoc funding.”

Cr Allan Miller

IS a regular speaker on the poor condition of Young’s roads at council meetings. 

He also inspects the roads with Cr John McGregor at least once a month.

Cr Miller said all the problem comes down to was that “we’re not resheeting the whole road” and more gravel was needed when resheeting gravel roads.

“Dirk (council’s operations director Dirk Wymer) said we haven’t got the funds but that excuse is going to have to run out. Sooner or later we’re going to have to find the money from somewhere.”

“Half the treatment is going on… they’re not doing the roads properly… do three kilometres of the road. Let the other lanes miss out for a year and do one properly.”

Cr Miller also said he took photos when he drove down Ardnaree and Blayneys roads that were identical to the ones published in last Wednesday’s and Friday’s papers - “and that was four months ago,” he said.

“Then we crossed the creek [in Blayneys Road] and there was the beautiful road in the Weddin Shire [looking] the way it should be done.”

Cr Sandy Freudenstein

IS horrified at the condition of Young’s roads saying it’s time for the operations director to “change his recipe”.

But at the moment, the councillor is even more disappointed that when she tried to voice her view about the roads in an email to be read at the last council workshop she was unable to attend, she heard it was never read out.

The workshop was held on August 14, the same night Cr Freudenstein was hosting a dinner for ANU medical students as she had done for the past nine years.

When the mayor told her the date couldn’t be changed, Cr Freudenstein sent him an email, detailing her views on the current roads, which she requested be read out at the workshop.

“I’m horrified at the recently restored roads that are now falling apart… we are the laughing stock of the town… I’m seriously over the roads.”

She also said she frequently drives along Young’s roads and regularly talks to former councillor and road advocate Debbie Prest, who’s “worn my iPhone out, sending me all the dreaded photos of the roads she drives on three times a week”.

“Do it once and do it right… if I lived out [in Bribbaree] I’d be screaming… to me it’s insulting.”

Cr Brian Ingram

Councillor brian Ingram refused to answer any questions, instead issuing this statement.

“I believe my comments on these types of matters are most beneficial to the ratepayers in the Young Shire when they are aired at council level and/or with appropriate department head, in this case being Dirk Wymer.”

Cr Tony Wallace

THINKS major strides to improve Young’s roads have been made in the last couple of years.

“I think they’re not very good, but they’re far better in the last two to three years than they were before.

“This is due to greater planning.

“Council is on the right path.”

He said while finding funds was the major problem, greater efficiencies could be made.

“We don’t want work crew coming along and doing patch jobs.”

Mayor Cr Stuart Freudenstein

Not available for comment.