Frustrated residents calling for a permanent fix to Port Stephens roads

RESIDENTS near Lemon Tree Passage Road are questioning why it was not sealed in the days leading up to last week’s forecasted storms.

The road has been subject to multiple repairs in the past few years, with the adequacy of the work a subject of debate.

Local Warwick Williams wants to see a permanent fix.

“Repair work has been done time and time again,” he said.

“It’s become a nightmare to try and navigate the roads in the area.”

He told News Of The Area that he has previously contacted Councillor Ben Niland and Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington about the issue.

“These roads have been in the same condition since 2021,” he said.

“They keep talking about all this funding coming; well, where is it?”

Councillor Niland explained short term repairs may be carried out while awaiting longer-term solutions.

“The frustrating thing is, a work crew can repair something and half an hour later something else develops nearby and it looks like Council has done nothing at all,” he told News Of The Area.

“I have been lobbying behind the scenes to have Lemon Tree Passage Road and Medowie Road recategorised to State Roads to take some of the maintenance burden off Council and let us get on with tackling the backlog of pavement failures on local roads in a meaningful way.”

Kate Washington said, “the Minns Labor Government has delivered over $11.5 million to Port Stephens Council for urgent road upgrades and emergency repairs.”

She cited extreme weather events in recent years as a challenge, but said the funding is accelerating the rate of repairs.

“Our message to Port Stephens residents is clear: we understand the frustration of dealing with damaged roads, and we’re working with Councils to fix them properly.”

For residents like Warwick, who are impacted every time they drive on their local roads, a resolution cannot come soon enough.

“There is damage being caused financially and mentally to residents,” he said.

“Someone has got to be held accountable for what’s going on.”

By Cosette DE LORENZO