COUNCILS ON ROAD TO RECOVERY IN BARKER

Local road maintenance in Barker electorate will receive a boost thanks to funding under the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Program.

Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin, said the Australian Government would deliver to 380 local government authorities nationwide for safer and better-maintained roads.

“The Roads to Recovery funding in Barker will allow councils across the area to progress a number of projects they determine to be priorities using their local knowledge.” Mr Pasin said.

“The Australian Government is committed to getting Australians home sooner and safer, no matter where they live.”

“Councils throughout Barker as well as The State Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure will benefit from $68,187,130 through to 2023/2024. This funding will improve safety productivity across the road network in Barker.” Mr Pasin said.

“We are seeing unprecedented expenditure on the local road network in Barker at present and 80% of the costs of all works currently being undertaken is being funded directly from Canberra.” Mr Pasin said.

“This funding is putting shovels in the ground and creating jobs in the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression.”

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.

Ends.