The New England is set to benefit from the Australian and NSW governments committing almost $700 million to improve local roads and create thousands of local jobs in the regions, with Round 2 of the accelerated Fixing Local Roads program opening this week. 

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said this much-needed money for local projects will make a huge difference in people’s everyday lives right across the region. 

“Just recently the Federal Government tipped a further $13 million into road and bridge projects across the New England,” Mr Joyce said.

“This extra injection of funds will build on that and means even more communities in the New England will be able to see the benefits of better roads to get you and your family home safely.”

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the NSW Government had accelerated its funding for the program to get more projects to seal, maintain and repair local roads under way faster.

“We’re not just putting our foot down in terms of delivering this package – we’re turbocharging it to ensure we create jobs and create better journeys on the roads that really matter to local communities,” Mr Toole said. 

Applications for round two of the program are open until Friday 4 December 2020. 

Projects will need to start this financial year and be delivered within two years, to ensure local communities see the benefits as quickly as possible. 

The Australian Government committed $191 million in June to build on the NSW Government’s $500 million program.

Updated guidelines and a factsheet for Round 2 of Fixing Local Roads can be found here www.rms.nsw.gov.au/fixinglocalroads 

(ENDS)