Extra funding for local roads across the New England Electorate, says Joyce

27 Jun 2015

FEDERAL Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said local roads and streets in the New England Electorate will receive a major boost with $1.105 billion extra funding being made available to councils across Australia for vital road upgrades through the Roads to Recovery Programme over the next two years.

 

Mr Joyce said the extra money will flow as a result of the passage through Federal Parliament of the fuel excise indexation legislation.

 

Every cent of the extra $23 billion revenue raised through the excise over the next decade and beyond will be invested in road infrastructure. Councils and residents in the New England Electorate will see more road works in their local area.

 

“Every resident understands the challenges this region faces with building necessary roads. The extra funding will increase Federal Government funding for Roads to Recovery from $700 million to $1 billion in 2015-16 and from $350 million to $1.155 billion in 2016-17,” Mr Joyce said.

 

“The Australian Government’s increased funding of $45,131,979 to local councils in the New England Electorate over the next two financial years means they can now invest in more of the road upgrades we need,” he said.

 

“This extra funding will deliver a tangible benefit and make our roads and streets safer and more reliable.”

 

Mr Joyce said the Roads to Recovery Programme has been a popular initiative since the Coalition Government introduced it in 2001.

 

“This is a massive boost in funding for our region’s road network and I am looking forward to seeing the additional opportunities this decision will create for our councils,” he said.

 

“Over its almost 15 year history, Roads to Recovery has funded the repair and upgrade of more than 45,000 local streets and roads across Australia, the largest investment in Australia's local roads ever undertaken. This includes scores of road and street projects in the New England Electorate.”

 

The extra $1.105 billion being pumped into Roads to Recovery will be paid to councils under the usual formula as part of their regular quarterly payments without any requirement for councils to match the extra money.

 

 

 

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