An extra $1.4 million has been announced for Rangari Road, but NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro wants Gunnedah Shire Council to cough up some more of the bill.
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Mr Barilaro made the announcement on the dusty road on Tuesday afternoon, adding to the already committed $9 million for the road sealing. This brings the total to $10.4 million in state government funds.
But he said Gunnedah council needed to help out to get the figure to the $12.9 million total cost of the work.
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Tamworth Regional Council has already committed their share of the remaining $2.5 million, according to the deputy premier, and it was now time for Gunnedah to "come to the table".
"We made a commitment that we would put in $9 million towards the road and the councils would have to then pick up the difference," Mr Barilaro said.
"We're upping it by $1.4 million because we've been asked to do so, and I'm looking forward to seeing council now dip in to its coffers as our partner."
He said the council had already made a commitment to Rangari Road, and couldn't "just withdraw this commitment".
"What we've done today is put additional funding in which will lessen the burden but I think they should come to the table, and I'm happy to have that discussion with the Gunnedah mayor," he said.
"If you have a look at the investment we've just put in Gunnedah, it wasn't long ago I was up here for the saleyards ... so the truth is, we're investing, we're going to also share that love across the whole state and I don't think there's anything wrong with co-investment, especially when we're picking up the vast majority of this road."
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said the council should look at seeking the funds from various programs such as the Fixing Country Roads program, or by approaching the Federal Government for the money.
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey has previously stated the council shouldn't need to pitch in funds after a funding application was knocked back, but declined to comment on this announcement without speaking to Mr Anderson first.
Narrabri Shire Council has consistently made it clear that the sealing of Rangari Road is not on its agenda.
More to come soon.