​Residents of the New England electorate received a major road safety boost today with the Australian Government announcing it will invest over $161,000 for projects under the 2021–22 Black Spot Program.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said community input was critical to identifying key black spots in the electorate.

"Road crashes place major emotional and economic strains on all affected communities but particularly the families and friends of the victims,” Mr Joyce said.

"I am pleased to see an upgrade to the intersections of Niagara and McLennan Streets, Armidale and Avro and Plain Streets in Tamworth will be delivered under the 2021–22 funding round.

"$108,696 will be spent on installing a roundabout at the Niagara and McLennan Streets intersection while $53,000 has been allocated for new line markings and other improvements at the Avro and Plain Streets intersection in Tamworth.

"The Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to securing our recovery and keeping our communities safe,” Mr Joyce said.

"Motorists living within and visiting New England will be pleased to know two more dangerous black spots in the electorate will be fixed with funding from the program.

"None of these projects would be delivered without the community’s vital input and I encourage all residents and motorists in the region to nominate projects for future funding rounds.”

Mr Joyce, who is also the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said New South Wales would receive $34.4 million in 2021–22 under the latest round of program funding, with Local and State Governments contributing a further $2.5 million to the successful projects.

"The Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to making roads safer in NSW and right across the nation,” Mr Joyce said.

"Representing a regional electorate, I know first-hand how road crashes causing death and injury affect smaller communities, so I am very pleased to be able to announce today the details of how this round of Black Spot funding will be distributed.

"By specifically targeting road locations with a history or risk of crashes for safety upgrades such as lighting, signage, traffic lights and roundabouts, the Black Spot Program reduces crashes causing injury and death at those sites by around 30 per cent.”

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Scott Buchholz said the 97 Black Spot projects across New South Wales would make an important contribution towards reducing serious injuries and deaths on NSW and built on previous investments in the state.

"This Government is investing in road safety upgrades right across the nation to ensure Australians get home sooner and safer, as even one death or one serious injury crash on our roads is one too many,” Mr Buchholz said.

"This new funding will see total investment through the Black Spot Program in NSW rise to $292.2 million, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving road safety.”

The Australian Government has committed a record $1.1 billion to the Black Spot Program from 2013–14 to 2023–24 to improve road safety across the nation.

For more information on the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, visit investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots.