Dungog Shire's major transport corridors connect communities, support critical industries and provide essential links to employment centres across the Hunter region. Yet the responsibility for maintaining these important roads falls disproportionately on our small rural council.
 

Dungog Shire's road network does much more than connect our local towns and villages. Our roads are vital transport routes for agricultural producers, freight operators, local businesses and commuters travelling throughout the Hunter. They provide important connections to the Pacific Motorway and major employment centres in Maitland, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, as well as the mining industry to our south-west and defence industries to our north-east.
 

Many of these roads carry significant volumes of regional traffic, including heavy vehicles, yet their current classifications do not adequately recognise the broader role they play in supporting the Hunter's economy.
 

As a result, Dungog Shire Council is responsible for maintaining transport corridors that benefit communities and industries well beyond our Shire, without receiving a level of State Government funding that reflects their regional importance.
 

Dungog is the only local government area in NSW without a State Road, despite the significant regional role of our road network.
 

The Roads That Keep Our Region Connected

Council has identified three major transport corridors that warrant review and recategorisation to better reflect their regional and State significance:
 

1. MR101 – Tocal, Dungog and Stroud Hill Roads

This important north–south transport corridor connects Tocal in the Maitland local government area, through Dungog, to Stroud Hill Road in the MidCoast Council area.

It provides an essential link for regional commuters, agricultural producers, freight operators and businesses travelling between Dungog and surrounding employment and economic centres.
 

2. MR301 – Clarence Town Road

Clarence Town Road connects Glen Oak in the Port Stephens local government area to MR101 at Wirragulla.

This corridor supports local and regional traffic, providing important connections for residents, businesses, agricultural activities and freight movements between Dungog Shire and neighbouring communities.
 

3. MR128 to RR7764 – Gresford and Bingleburra Road Corridor

This corridor provides an important connection between Dungog Shire and Singleton, incorporating Gresford Road, Glenbrook Road, Allyn River Road and Bingleburra Road.

It supports regional travel, agricultural and freight movements, and access to employment opportunities across the Hunter, including the mining industry.
 

Why Road Classification Matters

In NSW, road classifications help determine responsibility for managing and funding roads. State Roads are generally funded and managed by the NSW Government, while Regional Roads remain the responsibility of councils but receive partial State Government funding support.
 

Dungog's current road classifications place significant financial responsibility on Council for transport corridors that serve a much broader regional purpose. With a limited ratepayer base and more than 755 kilometres of roads to maintain, this places considerable pressure on Council's ability to fund essential maintenance, upgrades and long-term improvements. Roads that support the wider Hunter region should receive funding that reflects the important role they play.

We're asking the NSW Government to:

- Review and recategorise these key transport corridors to appropriate State and Regional Road classifications.

- Better recognise their importance to freight movement, agriculture, regional connectivity and access to major employment centres.
 

Appropriate road classification and funding would help Council:

• Better manage the financial burden of maintaining regionally significant transport routes.

• Improve the condition and reliability of important road connections.

• Support freight operators, agricultural producers and local businesses.

• Strengthen transport connections between Dungog Shire and surrounding communities.

• Plan more effectively for future road maintenance and infrastructure investment.

Our roads connect the Hunter. Their classification and funding should reflect that.