While announcing the distribution of the Cobbora Transfer Fund for Dunedoo yesterday, Dubbo MP Troy Grant and Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries announced “significant funding” had been allocated to begin an upgrade of the road that runs from Dubbo to Maitland.

Mr Grant and Mr Humphries said their electorates could expect to hear a number of announcements over the next 12 months and said their long-term aim was to ensure the Golden Highway was a quality road, similar to the Hunter Expressway.

“Kevin and I have been able to secure significant funding for an upgrade of the Golden Highway,” Mr Grant said.

“The designers and planners are now working out the best way to do it and there will be engagement with and opportunities for the community to buy into that process as we go forward.

We talk a lot about the Newell, the New England, the Pacific and the Bells Line but the Golden Highway isn’t called that by accident, it is an opportunity for economic gold to flow from east to west, particularly the port of Newcastle.”

Mr Humphries said it was more good news after announcing almost $7 million in funding from the Cobbora Transition Fund would be going to the Warrumbungle Shire Council and Dunedoo.

More than $1.8 million will go to upgrades around the town while another $4.5 million will go to a new aged care facility.

Mr Humphries said Dunedoo was the major focus for the fund because it was the town most badly affected by proposed Cobbora Coal Mine. 

Not only did they lose families when the properties were bought up but the delays that stopped the mines’ construction had also prevented any new growth in the town.

“We wanted to make sure Dunedoo was looked after,” the Barwon MP said.

“It’s good news but the community has done a great job. There was some criticism that not a lot of projects came out of Dunedoo but there was a good reason for that. The community consolidated and they prioritised what work needed to be done.

“There’s a mixture of upgrades, particularly to the streetscape, which is important because Dunedoo is a halfway stop for people who are travelling for Western NSW to the city or Newcastle.

“Robinson Oval will give Dunedoo a good sporting area.

“The second oval and the amenities will be welcomed.”

Mr Humphries said land aggregations on the 

proposed site of the Cobbora Coal Mine will also help to keep some farmers in the area for longer.