- New Agreement to deliver a record $1.38 billion
investment in local road projects
- Estimated investment increase of $353 million
compared to previous agreement
- Local governments to be allocated 20 per cent of
revenue from WA licence fees
- Agreement will deliver nearly $253 million for
local roads this financial year
The Cook
Government has today signed a new five-year State Road Funds to Local
Government Agreement (SRFLGA) with the WA Local Government Association (WALGA).
The
agreement guarantees councils 20 per cent of the revenue collected from the
State's vehicle licence fee collections to be allocated to local roads.
The
agreement, first negotiated in 1995, reinforces the partnership between the
State and local governments, providing a vital funding source towards the
improvement and maintenance of the local government road network.
Overall
funding for this latest agreement has been built on the previous five
agreements and will equate to an estimated record investment amount of $1.38
billion to be allocated over the next five years.
Under the
new agreement, commitments have been agreed between Main Roads and WALGA to
address road safety objectives, increase Aboriginal employment and improve the
use of recycled materials in road construction.
The local government-managed
programs will receive 67 per cent of annual funding in direct grants, road
project grants, State Black Spot allocations and remote Aboriginal access
roads.
The
remaining 33 per cent of funding goes to Main Roads managed programs, which
include State initiatives on local roads, bridgeworks and bridge inspections,
and traffic management, signs and pavement markings.
In total,
the agreement will see nearly $253 million invested in local government roads
this financial year.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"This is a great example of State and local government
working together to deliver road safety improvements across the State.
"My Government is proud to deliver this record funding
agreement to ensure we are meeting the challenges of maintaining and improving
the State's vast road network."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Our Government is committed to working collaboratively with
local governments to ensure our road network is maintained and continues to be
improved.
"This agreement will ensure we continue to maintain and
improve Western Australia's road network with a record amount of funding for
local roads.
"The new Agreement has a strengthened
focus on road safety objectives to align with the National Road Safety Strategy
2021-2030, and to deliver outcomes aligned with the State's priorities of
increasing Aboriginal employment and use of recycled materials in road
construction.
"The agreement also
brings a renewed focus to access roads for remote Aboriginal communities with
$2.5 million allocated this financial year and further investments in the years
ahead."
Comments attributed to WALGA President Karen Chappel:
"WALGA and local
government welcome the commitment by the State Government to enter in to the
sixth State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement.
"The agreement is a vital
source of funding providing certainty
for local government and the communities they represent, for the term of the
Agreement.
"The new State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement strengthens the
partnership between the two tiers of Government and the shared effort to
improve and maintain the State's local road network."
FUNDING BREAKDOWN BY REGION FOR 2023/24
*Note: Additional funding is
also allocated to a number of non-region-specific programs and initiatives.
