Joyce welcomes selection of Bolivia Hill route

11 Mar 2014

 

 

Agriculture Minister and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce today welcomed the announcement of the preferred route for the Bolivia Hill project.

 

The announcement follows the Federal Government’s commitment in December last year of $80 million for the realignment of the three kilometre Bolivia Hill section of the New England Highway, which will help improve road safety, particularly for heavy vehicles.

 

The $80 million allocation had previously been promised by the former Labor government without a definitive funding source within the budget after the mining tax failed to deliver the promised revenue.

 

Mr Joyce said he had worked closely with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss to find money within the budget to ensure the upgrade went ahead.

 

“I am very happy with the quick progress of the decision, which will mean we can proceed to the next stage,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“It is great to see a preferred route has been chosen and this means that we can get moving as quickly as possible.”

 

Mr Joyce said that after securing funding for the Coledale community in the south of the electorate, and now securing funding for Bolivia Hill in the north, between the two projects we will see more than $90 million in funding.

 

“This development is an important step forward in making this section of the highway safer,” Mr Joyce said.

 

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