Local governments across the state are to share in $1.2 billion worth of commonwealth funding for local roads over the next five years.
The federal government says the investment is an increase of $461 million compared to current funding budgets.
The allocation is part of $4.4 billion announced in this week’s federal budget for the nation-wide Roads to Recovery program over the next five years.
The government says it’s progressively doubling the program’s funding to $1 billion per year, starting in the next financial year with the aim of protecting critical road safety measures from what it’s described as the ‘uncertainty of budget cycles’.
Pot holes are to be filled, pavements repaired and culverts installed to improve drainage and keep roads open during bad weather as part of the program.
National local road budget breakdown
Elsewhere across the country, the funding is to be allocated as follows:
- $895 million for Victorian councils, an increase of $368 million;
- $895 million for Queensland councils, an increase of $353 million;
- $395 million for South Australian councils, an increase of $153 million;
- $643 million for Western Australian councils, an increase of $278 million;
- $143 million for Tasmanian councils, an increase of $60 million;
- $128 million for Northern Territory councils, an increase of $55 million;
- $70 million for councils in the The ACT, an increase of $30 million.
Other local road funding
The government says the increased funding is part of a series of changes aimed at strengthening investment in safer, more productive local roads across Australia.
Funding for the Black Spot Program is to increase from $110 million to $150 million per year.
A new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program has $200m available per year, which the government says is $50 million more than what was available for two programs it has replaced.
A media release from the government on Wednesday said there was also $21.2 million in funding for the National Road Safety Data Hub, and $10.8 million for a National Road Safety and awareness campaign.
The release was a joint statement from federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, and Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister Kristy McBain.
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