Toowoomba Regional Council will soon get their share of $1 billion flowing to councils nationwide to improve their local road networks and deliver priority community infrastructure projects.
Made possible under the third phase of the Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program, guidelines for the funding are now online, meaning councils can now start nominating their priority projects.
Federal Member for Groom Garth Hamilton said in total, Toowoomba Regional Council would benefit from $8,184,600 under the program’s third phase.
“This is fantastic news for communities, and I am excited to announce our local governments can now nominate priority projects for funding, to take them off the wishlist and into reality,” Mr Hamilton said.
“It’s been a tough few years filled with unexpected and downright difficult times for all of us, and both our local governments and our communities here in Toowoomba Region have pulled together to keep the gears turning and continue supporting one another.
“This is yet another example of our Government continuing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with councils and the communities they serve, delivering the funding needed to create jobs, economic stimulus and road and community infrastructure that will benefit Australians well into the future.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the funding injection would help drive local recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 as regions get ready to return to business as usual and reopen to the world.
“This funding will go directly to local governments to deliver some of their priority projects, which will create local jobs and get funding flowing across our regions,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“It will also mean communities will benefit from key community infrastructure projects, and lasting safety and access improvements on our roads, that will have a real impact on the day-to-day lives of residents.
“From sealing rough regional roads and installing safety barriers to upgrading sporting facilities and installing Wi-Fi networks, this program has already been making local projects that communities need and deserve a reality – and I look forward to seeing more get underway thanks to this third phase.”
Councils can nominate a broad range of local road projects for funding under the program, such as traffic signs, street lighting, bridges, tunnels, rest areas or even road and sidewalk improvements.
Community infrastructure projects can include upgrading park and play facilities, installing Wi-Fi networks or safety-boosting closed-circuit TV, or improving bike and walking paths.
Assistant Minister for Local Government Kevin Hogan said across all three phases, the program is delivering a total of $2.5 billion to local governments across Australia, with $1.495 billion already out the door and supporting over 6,100 projects nationwide.
“I’m thrilled to be putting even more funding in the hands of local governments to help them deliver even more projects that will support their communities,” Assistant Minister Hogan said.
“This program asks local councils to use local businesses and workforces to deliver their projects where possible and that’s exactly what we have been seeing, meaning these funds continue to flow on to hard-working Aussies, their families, and then back into their communities.
“Shovels can hit the ground on projects as soon as work schedules are approved, so I call on all local councils to work with us to get this funding out the door and benefitting their communities as soon as possible by nominating projects now.”
For more information on the $2.5 billion LRCI Program, including the guidelines and allocations for the $1 billion third phase, visit infrastructure.gov.au/local-roads-and-community-infrastructure.
