Local councils can now start nominating their priority projects for the third phase of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program, with $1 billion in funding available.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Barnaby Joyce, said the funding injection would help drive the recovery of regional economies.
“This funding will go directly to local governments to help them deliver some of their priority projects, creating jobs and ensuring funding flows across our regions,” Mr Joyce said.
“From sealing rough regional roads and installing safety barriers, to upgrading sporting facilities and installing Wi-Fi networks, this program delivers the local projects that communities need and deserve.”
With guidelines for the third phase now online, councils can nominate a broad range of local road projects for funding under the program, such as traffic signs, street lighting, bridges, tunnels, rest areas or even road and sidewalk improvements.
Community infrastructure projects can include upgrading park and play facilities, installing Wi-Fi networks or safety-boosting closed circuit TV, or improving bike and walking paths.
Assistant Minister for Local Government, Kevin Hogan, said the projects and economic benefits delivered through the program help ensure our communities stay safe, strong and vibrant.
“Local councils have been putting in some hard yards supporting their communities through the toughest times of the last few years, so I’m thrilled to be putting even more funding in their hands to help them do that,” Mr Hogan said.
“This program also asks local councils to use local businesses and workforces to deliver their projects where possible and that’s exactly what we have been seeing, meaning these funds continue to flow on to hard-working Aussies, their families, and then back into their communities.
“Shovels can hit the ground on projects as soon as work schedules are approved, so I call on all local councils to work with us to get this funding out the door and benefit communities as soon as possible by nominating projects now.”
Across all three phases, the program is delivering a total of $2.5 billion to local governments, with $1.495 billion already allocated and supporting over 6,100 projects nationwide.
More information on the LRCI Program, including the guidelines and allocations for the $1 billion third phase, can be found here.
