General News
27 January, 2024
Tracks to road recovery
Locals are hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel, after federal infrastructure and transport minister, Catherine King, announced the Roads to Recovery funds will double in the coming years.
Locals are hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel, after federal infrastructure and transport minister, Catherine King, announced the Roads to Recovery funds will double in the coming years.
Local councils and residents 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 which endanger lives and cause unnecessary damage to vehicles.
Ms King said the federal government was strengthening its commitment to road safety with significant increases in funding which would see the Roads to Recovery funding 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.
"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.
"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."
Roads now on the list include Dimboola-Minyip Road, Horsham-Lubeck Road, Noradjuha-Tooan East Road, North-East Wonwondah Road and Polkemmet Road, as well as the Nhill-Jeparit Road intersection upgrade and further future works.
The final stages of works on the Western Highway Road Corridor duplication between Ararat and Stawell will also be completed.
The $360 million promise came as a relief to Member for Mallee Dr 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.