The State Government will contribute more than $145 million to local roads in Western Australia in 2011-12, an increase of more than $9 million on the past financial year.


Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the funding, derived from State motor vehicle licence fee revenue, would be allocated to councils in several categories, including road project grants ($70.994 million) and direct grants ($15.439 million).


“This is the State’s contribution to the upgrading and maintenance of local roads throughout WA,” Mr Buswell said.


The Minister said the Local Roads Program in 2011-12 would provide funding to important areas on the local road network, including:

  • Road project grants ($70.994million) - for specific road improvements, provision of new roads and major preservation works such as resealing to maintain the road asset.  64 per cent of the grants will go to rural areas and 36 per cent to the metropolitan area
  • Direct grants ($15.439million) - for council road preservation or capital works at local government’s discretion
  • Traffic management and road safety initiatives ($30.221million) - for the installation and maintenance of road signage, pavement  markings and other infrastructure
  • State initiatives on local roads ($20.309million) - supporting local road projects that provide a wider community benefit
  • Bridges ($4.549million) - for improvements and maintenance of bridges on local roads
  • Aboriginal community access ($1.496million) - for maintaining access roads serving Aboriginal communities
  • Strategic and technical support ($2.055million).

 

This announcement follows the recent signing of a new five-year funding agreement between the State Government and the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA).