Road funding boost

By Lachlan Ellis

Rural and regional councils across the country – including Moorabool Shire Council – are set to benefit from a new $250 million round of Federal road funding.

On Wednesday 3 May, the Federal Government announced an additional $250 million investment in Phase 4 of the ‘Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program’, which will benefit 466 of Australia’s 550 councils.

The extra funding is available to councils classified as rural, regional, or outer-urban to spend on road projects, and was a commitment by the Government prior to last year’s election.

In total, Moorabool Shire Council will receive just over $2 million from Phase 4, with $739,315 of that money coming from the newly announced extra funding.

Chair of Rural Councils Victoria (RCV), Cr Mary-Ann Brown, said the announcement was “fantastic news” for all of RCV’s 34 member councils.

“RCV has been consistently advocating for extra funding for rural roads, which were in a poor state before the recent flood, and many are in even worse condition now. This funding will help councils provide better road infrastructure for rural communities, tourists, farmers, transportation, and other businesses that provide the food and other goods needed by those living in our cities,” Cr Brown said.

“Good quality roads improve road safety and cut transportation and vehicle repair costs for farmers and other businesses, helping make food and other goods cheaper for consumers, especially at a time of high inflation.”

Moorabool Shire Council CEO Derek Madden said Council was thrilled to receive extra funding for roads, which will be allocated at a later date.

“Council welcomes the announcement of further funding under the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. For Moorabool, the program assists the timely delivery of projects identified in our long-term capital works program. We look forward to receipt of the guidelines for the program to inform expenditure of the funding,” Mr Madden told the Moorabool News.

Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister, Kristy McBain, said the extra funding will “build on around 9,500 projects supported nationwide through Phases 1-3 of LRCI, and will make a positive impact in communities – particularly those in rural, regional, and remote areas”.

The previous three Phases of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program have seen the Federal Government invest $5.62 million in Moorabool Shire’s roads and infrastructure.