City’s roads and infrastructure funding topped up

THERE is more than a million extra dollars being added to the City of Greater Geelong’s allocation in the latest round of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.

Announced on Wednesday last week, the funding was a Labor election commitment to provide an extra $250 million for projects in rural, regional and outer-urban areas.

The city will receive $1,259,494 on top of the $2,184,504 it was slated to get in phase 4 of LRCI, and there is also extra funding for the Surf Coast Shire, the Borough of Queenscliffe and Golden Plains Shire.

Phase 4 of LCRI has delivered $500 million to Australian councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects in their region

The additional $250 million investment is available to councils classified as rural, regional or outer-urban to spend on road projects.

Councils will be able to access the Phase 4 funding allocations from July this year, with projects to be delivered by June 2025.

“The Albanese Government is proud to be delivering for Geelong and on our commitment for additional funding under the LRCI program,” Corio federal member Richard Marles said.

“This funding will assist the City of Greater Geelong to deliver these vital projects which will make our great community even better.”

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine Kingsaid many councils across the country were struggling to maintain and improve their local road networks, especially following repeated flooding and other natural disasters.

“We have listened to councils and are standing stand side-by-side with local governments to support them in their vital role in delivering critical infrastructure for their communities.”

The federal government has drawn on the Australian Classification of Local Governments as a framework underpinning the determination of eligible councils.

In March, the government extended project construction timelines for Phases 1–3 of the program.

Councils across Australia will now have until June 30, 2024 to complete works, giving them an extra year.