Local road maintenance worth $1,245,421 will be delivered in Cowper through the next instalment of the important Roads to Recovery Program.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said the Australian Government would deliver over $171.1 million to 344 local government authorities nationwide through this program for safer and better-maintained roads.

“The Roads to Recovery funding for our region will allow councils across the area to progress a number of high-priority projects, using local knowledge to deliver the best local roads,” he said.

“Our Government is committed to getting Australians home sooner and safer, no matter where they live, so it’s great to see this additional funding for our local roads.”

This payment includes the final instalment of the Government’s $138.9 million additional funding for the 128 Local Government Areas eligible for the Drought Communities Program Extension.

The latest Roads to Recovery program funding being provided to Councils in Cowper include:

• Coffs Harbour City Council: $119,104

Total Roads to Recovery allocation over this five-year program 2019–20 to 2023-24: $6,910,480

• Bellingen Shire Council: $150,803

Total Roads to Recovery allocation over this five-year program 2019–20 to 2023-24: $2,973,126

• Nambucca Valley Council: $575,514

Total Roads to Recovery allocation over this five-year program 2019–20 to 2023-24: is $3,844,327

• Kempsey Shire Council: $400,000

Total Roads to Recovery allocation over this five-year program 2019–20 to 2023-24: is $5,800,940

• Port Macquarie-Hastings Council: nil

Total Roads to Recovery allocation over this five-year program 2019–20 to 2023-24: is $9,133,088 for both the Cowper and Lyne electorates.

This makes a total investment of $28,661,961 for local roads.

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister Kevin Hogan said the Australian Government has committed an additional $100 million per year to the Roads to Recovery Program from 2019–20, as part of the Local and State Government Road Safety Package announced in the 2019–20 Budget.

“From 2013–14 to 2023–24, the Government will provide $6.2 billion under the Roads to Recovery Program, with an ongoing commitment of $500 million each year following,” Mr Hogan said.

“We are investing in infrastructure nationwide in order to lay the foundations for economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Assisting local councils to maintain and improve roads under their jurisdiction is a big part of that, which is why we have also funded a new $1.5 billion Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program and brought forward $1.3 billion of the 2020–21 Financial Assistance Grant payment.”

Mr Hogan said Roads to Recovery investments deliver safer roads in local government areas throughout the country.

“In order to meet the anticipated strong demand for Roads to Recovery for 2020–21, the Australian Government has brought forward $22.75 million to be available to councils to claim this financial year, for a total of $592.18 million in 2020–21,” he said.

“The Australian Government supports local governments to provide vital infrastructure and services through a range of programs.

“This support includes Financial Assistance Grants and the Bridges Renewal, Black Spot, Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity and Roads to Recovery programs.”

More information on these programs is available at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.

ENDS

Media Contacts:

Mr Hogan – Dylan Butcher 0411 822 990

Mr Conaghan ­­– Liz Spry 0418 928 744