ALGA applauds ALP's integrated transport plan
6 October 2004
The Australian Local Government Association has welcomed today's announcement that a newly elected ALP Government would renew the Roads to Recovery program and expand the national government's role in passenger and urban transport.
Local government is pleased with the ALP commitment to provide $1.2 billion to renew the much needed and highly successful Roads to Recovery program for a further four years.
"This is good news for local government and a very satisfactory outcome of recent consultations with Martin Ferguson and Daryl Melham," ALGA President, Councillor Mike Montgomery, said today.
"Roads to Recovery is producing very real and tangible results for all our communities and the extension of the program's funding criteria to include public transport, cycling and walking facilities will also be welcomed by many councils".
Local government saw four aspects of the ALP transport plan as particularly important:
- recognition of a national government role across the full range of transport needs - whether passenger, freight or intermodal services; or urban, regional or remote areas
- funding for the full national highway system, allied to ongoing rail investment and reform
- renewal of the national Black Spot program to 2008 - as first announced at the July 2004 ALGA National Local Roads Congress
- the clear commitment to work with local and state and territory governments in an equitable and transparent process to maximise transport outcomes
ALGA looks forward to working with the ALP, if elected, to implement these valuable initiatives.
Cr Montgomery said that "good national transport policy is essential for the economic and social well being of all Australians, and the transport commitments by the major parties are to be commended. They show clearly that the needs of councils throughout Australia and the voice of ALGA and state and territory local government associations have been listened to by our political leaders".
