$40 MILLION ROAD SAFETY FUNDING EN ROUTE FOR HUNTER – MID NORTH COAST REGION

A major road safety initiative between the Federal and State Governments is set to inject more than $40 Million into road improvements across the region.

Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said the Australian and NSW Governments were working tirelessly to ensure works start immediately and are completed by June to get our product to market more efficiently and ensure people return home sooner and safer.

“I know just how important safe, efficient road connections are to our communities, that’s why we are rolling out this funding to deliver lifesaving upgrades including shoulder sealing, School pedestrian refuges, Upgrade traffic signals, Road resurfacing and roadside and median barriers,” Dr Gillespie said.

“As part of the Phase 1 investment, 25 priority projects will be delivered across the Hunter - Mid North Coast continuing our commitment to improving road safety.”

“These projects will help prevent the loss of lives and serious injuries on our roads over the project ensuring local residents make it home safely to their families at the end of the day.”

“I want to keep improving our roads to keep that road toll down as low as possible, it’s why I’ve called for a new phase of investment into the Pacific Highway Upgrade Program to build new overpasses at Major Intersections” Dr Gillespie said.

“Boosting local infrastructure also means boosting jobs and here on the Mid North Coast that ensures our local economy can continue to recover from COVID-19.”

The Australian Government’s funding for the Road Safety Program is subject to ‘use it or lose it’ provisions, The ‘use it or lose it’ provisions require States and Territories to use their notionally allocated funds within a timeframe, or the funds can be reallocated to projects in other jurisdictions.

In total, the Australian Government has committed up to $300 million and the NSW Government a further $108.2 million to fund the state-wide upgrades under tranche one.