MEMBER for New England Barnaby Joyce has announced more than $47 million in Australian Government funding to help improve roads in the electorate, including $4.9 million in the Upper Hunter.
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Funding is being provided to all 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the New England under the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery Program.
The program supports councils with the ongoing maintenance of Australia’s local road infrastructure, facilitating greater access and improved safety, economic and social outcomes.
“This additional $4.9 million in funding complements our other major road projects already underway across the Upper Hunter including the $137 million Scone Bypass and $12 million upgrade of the Merriwa-Willow Tree Road,” Mr Joyce said.
“The Roads to Recovery funding will also support the federally-funded $11.8 million redevelopment of Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre.
“Roads are vital assets here in the New England, and this funding to council will not only help improve safety and efficiency but contribute to the economic growth of our communities – growth to boost the financial capacity of towns in the Upper Hunter still suffering from this devastating drought.”
Councils will receive the following amounts over the 2019−20 to 2023−24 period:
· Tamworth Regional Council $10.6 million
· Armidale Regional Council $6.1 million
· Inverell Shire Council $5.1 million
· Upper Hunter Shire Council $4.9 million
· Gwydir Shire Council $4.7 million
· Tenterfield Shire Council $4.1 million
· Glen Innes Severn Council $3.4 million
· Liverpool Plains Shire Council $3.4 million
· Uralla Shire Council $2.3 million
· Walcha Council $2.3 million
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Program would provide $2 billion to local government bodies across Australia from 2019−20 to 2023−24.
The allocations for the New England have been calculated using the proportion of Financial Assistance Grants that each local governing body receives and updated assessments undertaken by local government grants commissions.