Local road maintenance in Queensland will receive a boost thanks to funding under the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program.
LNP Senator for Queensland Gerard Rennick said the Australian Government would deliver over $157.3 million to 380 local government authorities nationwide for safer and better-maintained roads.
“The Roads to Recovery funding will allow councils across the state to progress a number of projects they determine to be priorities using their local knowledge,” Senator Rennick said.
“The Australian Government is committed to getting Australians home sooner and safer, no matter where they live.”
Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister Kevin Hogan said the Australian Government has committed an additional $100 million per year to the Roads to Recovery Program from 2019–20, as part of the Local and State Government Road Safety Package announced in the 2019–20 Budget.
“From 2013–14 to 2023–24, the Government will provide $6.2 billion under the Roads to Recovery Program, with an ongoing commitment of $500 million each year following,” Mr Hogan said.
“We are investing in infrastructure nationwide in order to lay the foundations for economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Assisting local councils to maintain and improve roads under their jurisdiction is a big part of that, which is why we have also funded a new $500 million Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program and the bringing forward of $1.3 billion of the 2020–21 Financial Assistance Grant payment.”
Mr Hogan said Roads to Recovery investments deliver safer roads in local government areas throughout the country.
“In order to meet the anticipated strong demand for Roads to Recovery for 2020–21, the Australian Government has brought forward $22.75 million to be available to councils to claim this financial year, for a total of $592.18 million in 2020–21,” he said.
“The Australian Government supports local governments to provide vital infrastructure and services through a range of programs.
“This support includes Financial Assistance Grants and the Bridges Renewal, Black Spot, Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity, Roads to Recovery and Local Roads and Community Infrastructure programs.”
More information on these programs is available at www.infrastructure.gov.au.
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