WAGGA motorists have reported nearly three potholes a day since local roads began crumbling apart in May.
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The 421 complaints represents a 90 per cent spike compared to the same period last year; however, some reports may be for the same potholes.
Wagga’s wettest ever September, on top of an already wet winter, has exposed council’s sub-standard construction materials across its sprawling 2119 kilometre road network.
Council-owned and maintained roads are worth an estimated $810 million and this week mayor Greg Conkey freely conceded council could easily spend $110m to bring the surfaces up to scratch.
Last year, council spent around $15 million on maintenance and renewal and had plans to spend $20 million this year.
An annual maintenance shortfall of around $9m means council needs to find an extra $28m to make serious inroads in the upkeep backlog, before factoring in the last five months of unrelenting rain.
The hike in complaints comes after council would not accept liability for any damage to vehicles unless the offending pothole had been officially reported by phoning 1300 292 442 or via the iCouncil app.
Wagga MP Daryl Maguire and Riverina MP Michael McCormack have acknowledged the demand for emergency repairs, but stopped short of committing cash.
Councillor Conkey, who accepted Wagga’s top job on Monday, has made roads his highest priority but warned council will need to take out a loan unless grants are forthcoming.
Wagga taxi driver Joseph Smith tore apart Wagga’s “dreadful” pothole-plagued roads, labelling them “dangerous and annoying”.
“From a driver's point of view, the roads are bloody terrible,” Mr Smith said.
“Quite often you'll be forced to swerve sharply, or in the case of Bourke Street, all cars have to change lanes at the same time.”
Mr Smith joined a chorus of calls for more durable road surfaces, claiming council’s current pothole repair push was a fool’s errand.
“Weeks after council fixes a road, the potholes open up again,” he said.
“They apply light coats of asphalt that don't last, when they should be using hot mix or concrete.”
Whether council fills potholes with bitumen emulsion and aggregate, hotmix asphalt or coldmix asphalt depends on the location.