Member for Bega Andrew Constance visited the region on Sunday, January 20, to make the announcement to seal 27kms of Towamba Rd between Eden and Burragate. The work will include sealing/resealing, pavement stabilisation, new guardrail and drainage.

When speaking to a hall filled with community members on Sunday, Mr Constance said there had been too many near accidents as well as a couple of accidents on the road.

“I think it will go a long way to make the livability in this region much more improved,” he said. 

“This is one of the longest patches of sealing I’ve seen in a long time.”

One result would be that more people would spend money in Eden as it would be easier to reach along an improved road, he said. 

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He said the funding was tied to the Towamba Rd improvements which was also confirmed by Bega Valley Shire Council general manager Leanne Barnes. 

“This is absolutely just for this road and will be spent on this road. We will have to report that to the state government,” Ms Barnes said.

Towamba Community Progress Association president Tony Ovington has lived in the area for 33 years and said he had “waited a long time for the road”.

He said cars had run off the side of the road before, including one such accident he witnessed himself, with a major issue being the fact there was such poor mobile phone reception along the road if there was a crash people struggled to call for help. 

“In some parts you go around a corner and the corrugations bounce you sideways,” he said. 

The association’s secretary Kaye Bowles said couriers and local businesses would not take deliveries to Towamba because the road was in such poor condition.

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“So this all might mean we get more services,” she said.

“I think it will be a great increase in people’s confidence here.”  

Mr Constance hoped the work would start on the road this year, estimating it would take six to 12 months before construction began. 

“The Towamba Burragate Roads safety upgrades will be funded through a special purpose grant under RMS,” he said.