General News
23 July, 2024
Roads to ruin: minimal relief in sight
Hindmarsh residents are being urged to “name and shame” local roads in need of funding in a bid to address the deficit in funding needed for the expected $8,831,220 in road expenditure this year.
The call from federal MP Anne Webster comes following the announcement of an increase in federal funding of only $4,107,066.
The council is to be awarded $9,511,057 over the next five years as part of the government’s Road to Recovery (R2R) program - 76 per cent more than over the previous five-year period.
A spokesperson for Hindmarsh Shire said: “Council welcomes the increased Roads to Recovery Funding announced by the federal government, as costs of construction and maintenance materials has significantly increased, and continue to increase above the current rate cap of 2.75 per cent.”
But there’s a catch, as funding is being withdrawn from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program, which could be used with greater flexibility.
“The additional Roads to Recovery funding is much less than the previous combined Roads to Recovery and Local Roads and Community Infrastructure funding received,” the spokesperson said.
“We are strongly advocating for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure fund to be reinstated in future budgets, as it allows us the ability to renew and upgrade much-needed infrastructure, both community infrastructure and road infrastructure.”
Hindmarsh Shire Council said they were dedicated to providing all-weather access to existing residential homes and dry weather access roads to non-residential properties.
Their road network comprises 573 km of sealed roads, 845 km of gravel roads (all-weather) and approximately 1470 km of earth roads (dry weather only, some contain gravel sections, though not maintained to an all-weather standard).
The network also comprises six bridges and a significant number of large culverts, while VicRoads is responsible for main roads including highways and marked routes.
Similarly, state government agencies are responsible for roads and tracks within declared parks such as the Little Desert, Big Desert and along the Wimmera River
Dr Webster said she was "incensed" with the deal - particularly as smaller councils such as Yarriambiack and Buloke shires were to receive smaller increases of 46 per cent under the program.
“The government’s decision is insulting and exacerbates the awful disadvantage the Mallee region faces with crumbling roads and councils unable to shoulder the repair and upgrade burden,” she said.
“The 2024 National State of the Assets Report shows $23.1 billion worth of local government roads are in poor condition, $18.7 billion have poor function, and $17 billion have poor capacity."
While the Roads to Recovery program is funded by the federal government, it is delivered by local governments.
Dr Webster said while overall funding was being lifted from $500 million to $1 billion per year by 2027-28, the allocation to local councils was not being distributed fairly.
“Local government-managed roads represent 77 per cent of the national road network by length.
"With around 75 per cent of local councils located in regional, rural and remote areas, federal government funding such as the Roads to Recovery program is vital in keeping our nation’s road network safe and productive.”
Councils may nominate local priority road projects for funding in accordance with the Roads to Recovery conditions.
Dr Webster has urged residents to nominate a local road in their shire in need of funding through a national road survey launched last month by Mt Gambier Liberal MP Tony Pasin.
The survey can be accessed at https://www.research.net/r/2HRHBV9 and will remain open until August 30.
The government's Infrastructure Investment Program website also lists projects being undertaken in the Roads to Recovery program.
For details of projects in your area, visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au