Building the Future of our Local Roads

The 2005-06 Budget confirms that the Australian Government is meeting our election commitment to invest $1.35 billion in the AusLink Roads to Recovery programme - a vital injection of funds that is needed to build the future of Australia's local road system.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, said the Government would spend $340.6 million on the programme in 2005-06, in addition to the $497.0 million that councils will receive in untied local road grants.

"The Roads to Recovery programme has made an enormous difference to Australia's local roads since we established it in 2001. In the first phase of the programme, councils used their $1.2 billion in extra road funding to carry out 14,500 road maintenance and upgrade projects - they have linked communities together, supported new industries and made sure that families can get to the services they need," Mr Anderson said.

"The Budget confirms that we will spend $1.35 billion on the extended AusLink Roads to Recovery programme from 2004-05 to 2008-09. Under the extended programme:

• $1.2 billion ($300 million in 2005-06) will be distributed to Australia's local councils.
• $150 million ($40.6 million in 2005-06) is being allocated to unincorporated areas ($30 million) and AusLink Strategic Regional projects.

"The direct funding to local councils will be distributed according to the 2004-05 local road assessments made by the Local Government Grants Commissions in each state and the Northern Territory. The original Roads to Recovery programme was based on the commissions' 2000-01 assessments, which are out of date and do not reflect the current needs of Australia's councils.

"The Government will notify councils about the funding they will receive under the extended programme. The information will also be available from this evening on the Department of Transport and Regional Services website.

"The extended programme includes $30.0 million over four years ($7.5 million in 2005-06) for local roads in the unincorporated areas (where there are no councils) of the Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

"The local roads in the unincorporated areas of the Northern Territory will receive $16.0 million over four years. I want to pay tribute tonight to Senator Nigel Scullion for his strong and effective advocacy on behalf of the industries and communities that use these roads.

"Today's Budget also confirms the Government's commitment to 21 AusLink Strategic Regional projects, including important safety improvements to the Princes Highway in New South Wales and the Bass Highway through the Sisters Hills in Tasmania. We will spend $33.1 million on these projects in 2005-06," Mr Anderson said.

The remaining funds in the AusLink Strategic Regional Programme will be allocated on a competitive basis.

The details of the AusLink Strategic Regional projects are set out in the state and territory land transport media releases in this kit.

The council by council Roads to Recovery funding allocations are accessible at AusLink Roads to Recovery