Local Government welcomes continuation of Black Spot Program
April 4, 2007
The President of the Australian Local Government Association, Cr Paul Bell, has welcomed the announcement today by the Australian Government to provide $345 million to extend the AusLink Black Spot Program by six years from the end of June 2008 to 2014.
"I congratulate the Government on this initiative which is estimated to fix about 2,300 dangerous locations around Australia," Cr Bell said. "The Australian Local Government Association has been campaigning for some time to have this proven and highly successful program extended and the real winners from today's announcement are local communities throughout Australia."
Cr Bell said the Government's decision to extend and increase the level of funding from $45 million to $60 million each year from 2009-10 was very good news. He said the existing program was estimated to have saved at least 130 lives and prevented around 6,000 serious crashes. The continuation of the program would save even more lives and further reduce the number of accidents in the future.
A study by the Bureau of Transport Economics showed that the Black Spot program provided very high returns for the funds invested.
"As impressive as these statistics are they can never fully capture the savings in pain and suffering which are a direct result of a reduction in car accidents," Cr Bell said. "Almost every Australian has been touched by a road death of a friend, family member or someone in their community. It is a devastating experience made all the more difficult by circumstances which are often preventable."
A PDF version of the media release can be downloaded here
- Contact
- Amanda Lynch, ALGA - 0419 123 862
