Budget helps pay for rural road safety

The Federal Budget has allocated a total of $101,700,005 to Victorian councils for local road projects. The sums range from a low of $38,179 (to RCV member the Borough of Queenscliffe) to a high of $3,156,576 (RCV member council Wellington Shire Council).

Eligible local road projects are projects that involve the construction or maintenance of roads managed by local governments. Local governments are encouraged to consider how works can support improved road safety outcomes. This could include projects involving any of the following associated with a road:

• traffic signs;
• traffic control equipment;
• street lighting equipment;
• a bridge or tunnel;
• a facility off the road used by heavy vehicles in connection with travel on the road (for example, a rest area or weigh station);
• facilities off the road that support the visitor economy; and
• road and sidewalk maintenance, where additional to normal capital works schedules.

A further category of projects that deliver benefits to the community, such as improved accessibility, visual amenity, and/or safety. Examples of eligible works include:

• Closed Circuit TV (CCTV);
• bicycle and walking paths;
• painting or improvements to community facilities;
• repairing and replacing fencing;
• improved accessibility of community facilities and areas;
• landscaping improvements, such as tree planting and beautification of roundabouts;
• picnic shelters or barbecue facilities at community parks; playgrounds and skate parks (including all ability playgrounds);
• noise and vibration mitigation measures; and off-road car parks (such as those at sporting grounds or parks).

The federal government has stipulated that these must be new projects that Council puts forward, and that the Federal funding contribution has to be spent by 30 June 2021.

What the Federal Budget gives individual Victorian councils under the program: