AusLink confirms $1.2 billion boost for local roads
7 June 2004
Today's AusLink white paper strengthens the Australian Government's commitment to the nation's local road network, confirming the provision of $1.2 billion to renew the much needed and highly successful Roads to Recovery program, the President of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor Mike Montgomery, said today.
"AusLink is a vital nation-building initiative that focuses on the land transport infrastructure needs of Australia," Cr Montgomery said.
"Today's AusLink announcement meets a number of local government concerns. It ensures:
- "Roads to Recovery is continued beyond 2005 with quarantined funding
- "the identified roads component of Federal assistance grants will not be diverted for any other purpose
- "rail and freight priorities do not come at the expense of local roads
- "additional funding has been made available for AusLink
Roads to Recovery
"AusLink acknowledges the importance of the local road network with quarantined funding secured for the renewed Roads to Recovery program, to run from 2005 to 2009.
"Local roads comprise 85% - or 640,000km - of all Australian roads. Maintaining this $75 billion asset is a mammoth task. Assistance from the Australian Government is essential if local government is to address the massive maintenance backlog faced by councils.
"Roads to Recovery is an excellent example of a Commonwealth-local government partnership that is making a real difference to the lives of all Australians, whether they live in our city centres, regions or remote communities.
"Roads to Recovery is producing very real and tangible results right across the country. It is replacing dangerous bridges and upgrading intersections. It is sealing roads and improving traffic flows. It is easing congestion and improving safety.
"Importantly, Roads to Recovery recognises the widening gap between the age and quality of local roads and the capacity of local government to maintain them. Local government appreciates and applauds the Australian Government's decision to renew this landmark program.
Roads to Recovery - Strategic Component
"ALGA and state local government associations have been in discussions with the Department of Transport and Regional Services on how the $100m a year 'strategic' component of the renewed Roads to Recovery program will operate.
"Full details are yet to be settled and we look forward to further talks with the Government on this in the coming months. Program guidelines will be released by the Department around November.
"However, ALGA is concerned that the Government has decided not to allocate set shares of the strategic component on a state and territory basis, though I do recognise that the Government has said "the funds will be fairly distributed" (White Paper page 83). ALGA will pursue what this means and how it will be achieved.
"ALGA argues that such funds should be distributed across Australia at the regional level - rather than being held at a national level, which could see some regions and possibly states/territories miss out all together.
"Nonetheless, AusLink has met most of local government's key criteria and is a major step forward in the enhancement of Australia's transport infrastructure," Cr Montgomery said.
