ALGA applauds Coalition's new deal for local roads
15 September 2004
The Australian Local Government Association has warmly welcomed today's announcement that a re-elected Coalition Government would commit a further $150m over five years to the much needed and highly successful Roads to Recovery program and make major changes to the way the program's strategic regional road pool would be funded and operate. Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson announced the changes in Townsville.
"This is extremely good news for local government and a highly satisfactory outcome to recent consultation and lobbying on how the proposed strategic pool would operate," ALGA President, Councillor Mike Montgomery, said today.
"The new arrangements mean that the renewed $1.2bn Roads to Recovery program, to run from 2005 to 2009, would be a virtual carbon copy of the existing, very popular and highly effective program. An additional $150m for local roads of strategic regional importance and some local roads in unincorporated areas of remote Australia will be provided under the revised arrangements.
"Councils will continue to get their full share of the $300m a year allocated under the existing program. This is very good news for Australia's 675 councils and the communities they serve.
"Under plans announced in January, only $200m a year was to be allocated directly to councils, with the remaining $100m diverted into a fund for strategic local road projects of regional importance.
"Many councils would have missed out on the regional funds and have taken an effective one third cut in Roads to Recovery funding. The strategic regional pool - to be used for local road projects that run through a number of councils - will now be funded from the additional $150m announced today.
"Roads to Recovery is producing very real and tangible results for Australian communities. It is replacing dangerous bridges and upgrading intersections. It is sealing roads and improving traffic flows. It is easing congestion and improving safety. It is also boosting economic development, creating employment and improving the lives of countless Australians through 14,000 local government projects from city centres to remote communities.
"Local government now looks to Labor for a matching commitment," Cr Montgomery said.
Local roads comprise nearly 85% - or 680,000km - of all Australian roads. Much of the $75bn local road asset is in poor condition and needs work, the cost of which is well beyond the current financial capacity of local government.
