General News
22 November, 2023
Making tracks to road recovery
Wimmera councils are yet to hear their share of the Federal Government's $4 billion boost to improve country roads. Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King has announced that Roads to Recovery money would be doubled from...
Wimmera councils are yet to hear their share of the Federal Government's $4 billion boost to improve country roads.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King has announced that Roads to Recovery money would be doubled from $500,000 to $1 million annually.
Rural councils have badgered for increases in road money for years while watching their roads succumb to water damage, road edges becoming increasingly ragged and an increase in potholes and uneven surfaces.
They say all endanger life and cause unnecessary damage to vehicles.
Ms King said the Albanese Government was strengthening its commitment to road safety with significant increases in funding and changes to programs which would reduce administrative burden on local councils.
Roads to Recovery funding will rise gradually from $500 million to $1 billion annually for the next four years and Black Spot funding increase from $110 million to $150 million per year.
Ms King said merger ofthe a heavy vehicle safety program and a new bridges program into a new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program would mean less spending on administration.
"Big roads and metropolitan highways might get a lot of the attention, but we spend most of our driving lives on local roads around where we live and where we work," she said.
“Regional road networks have been battered by severe weather events over the last few years.
"This funding will help councils to fix and maintain roads and will support regional communities, and help move freight to and from our rural production centres."
Horsham Rural City Council CEO Sunil Bhalla said it was pleasing the Federal Government had listened and committed more money to road funding.
"This support will enable our own roads budget go so much further," he said.
"Every extra dollar we get from other levels of government helps deliver more projects, services and initiatives to support our community."
Trucks and farm machinery continued to increase in size and maintaining and upgrading council roads and bridges was a high priority.
"Many roads, especially the ones that connect to state government-managed highways, are not wide enough to carry B-doubles and are in desperate need of upgrading,” he said.
"The council will now identify and prioritise local projects and submit these to the Federal Government for approval once funds are available."
Other roads programs include Dimboola-Minyip Road, Horsham-Lubeck Road, Noradjuha-Tooan East Road, North-East Wonwondah Road and Polkemmet Road.
The final stages of works on the Western Highway between Ararat and Stawell will be also be completed.
The $360 million promise came much to the relief of Member for Mallee Anne Webster, who said local advocacy had worked.
“The people of Wimmera deserve safe roads and the Western Highway duplication will be a key project to deliver that," Dr Webster said.
State Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced the results of her 90-day infrastructure review last Thursday.
These projects are part of a Western Highway Road Corridor which incorporates duplication of the Western Highway as well as the Nhill-Jeparit Road intersection upgrade and further future works.