New road safety upgrades and improvements will be delivered in in the Indi electorate in north east Victoria thanks to funding from the Australian and Victorian governments.
Nationals Senate Leader and Wodonga-based Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said the timing couldn’t be better.
“This vital funding is not only providing a much-needed boost to local jobs and the economy, it is delivering life-saving upgrades to ensure road users stay safe on our roads,” she said.
“I am pleased to see $2,678,250 will be shared across Indi to fund road new safety upgrades and improvements to help reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries occurring on our roads.
“The most important thing we can for our community is ensure we all get home safely as even one death or one serious injury crash on our roads is one too many.”
The Federal Government has allocated $1,065,456 for safety works on the Beechworth to Yackandandah Rail Trail; $856,800 to upgrade Georges Creek Road, Georges Creek and $756,000 to install Electronic Speed Limit signs as part of the Safer Schools Program in North East Victoria*.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the additional works under the $2 billion Road Safety Program would be completed by mid-2022, improving safety and supporting jobs right across the country.
“This funding will deliver key lifesaving improvements such as shoulder sealing, rumble strips to alert drivers they are moving out of their lane, median works to prevent head-on collisions and barriers to prevent run-off-road crashes and protect against roadside hazards,” he said.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility right through all levels of government to all of us who use the road, which is why the Australian Government is investing heavily in road safety upgrades across Australia.”
The Australian Government’s funding for the Road Safety Program is subject to ‘use it or lose it’ provisions and will deliver life-saving works on regional roads and to protect vulnerable road users across Victoria, while also supporting local jobs and providing a welcome boost to local economies.
The ‘use it or lose it’ provisions require states and territories to use their notionally allocated funds within a time frame, or the funds can be reallocated to projects in other jurisdictions.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said road safety was a key priority for the Australian Government and this investment in road upgrades would provide a boost to the economy while ensuring Australians can get home sooner and safer.
“Making our roads safer is a critical component of our work to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads and move towards achieving vision zero,” he said.
“Projects are already underway through the $500 million Targeted Road Safety COVID stimulus package and this additional funding complements that work, resulting in an even greater roll out of improved infrastructure and roads right across the nation.”
For more information on the Australian Government’s road safety initiatives, visit www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au.
*Safer Schools Program recipient schools in Indi and Nicholls:
Australian Christian College on Benalla-Winton Road, Benalla
Murchison Primary School on Bendigo-Murchison Road, Murchison
St Josephs Catholic School on Barooga-Cobram Road, Cobram