NORTHERN Grampians Shire Council has welcomed a commitment by the Coalition to continue providing funds for vital upgrades to roads and bridges if re-elected.
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The government has announced that if re-elected, the Coalition Government would continue to invest $1 million a year, every year, for councils to undertake maintenance and upgrade works on country roads and bridges.
Northern Grampians Shire Mayor, Cr Kevin Erwin, said the extension of funding would provide a massive boost to the council.
"Here in the Northern Grampians Shire, there are a total of 560 bridges and major culverts," Cr Erwin said.
"That puts into perspective, just how important this funding is to a shire such as ours. It is critical funding for us really.
"Some of these bridges are around 50 years old and we continue to do what we can. However, when you consider it would cost around $1 million to replace these bridges, we're talking a lot of money just for our shire. We simply cannot do it without appropriate funding assistance."
Cr Erwin said a lot of funding was aimed towards major roads, but he personally would like to see a commitment towards C-class roads.
"The C-class roads always seem to be forgotten, but these are vital links between rural towns," he said.
"In our area, we are talking about the Donald-Stawell Road and the Wimmera Highway, which are both vital link roads.
"We have put in a lot of work through the Wimmera Southern Mallee Transport Strategy on C-class roads and a study quite a few years ago found that $26 million would be required on these regional roads.
"This would be just for safety works, including widening, roughness and improving the road edges.
"Particularly with the way grain moves now, these C-class roads really take a battering and they weren't designed for it. Money needs to be committed to upgrade these roads so they can cope with the increase in traffic volume and size.
"It is something we will continue to push hard for, having upgrades to these C-class roads."
Cr Erwin said he would now like to see the Opposition at least match the commitment of extending the roads funding program.
"This funding program really has been a great boon for rural councils," he said.
"We have lobbied hard for this funding to be extended and we are very grateful to see the Coalition commit to the program being extended. Now we would like to see the Opposition at least match this commitment."
The Nationals candidate for Ripon, Scott Turner, said he was delighted with the announcement by the Coalition last week.
He said the Northern Grampians Shire Council stood to receive annual roads funding of $1 million over the next four years, thanks to the program.
"I am delighted the Coalition has re-committed to the successful $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Program for a further four years," Mr Turner said.
"This funding will provide much needed financial assistance to local councils."
Mr Turner said 40 rural councils had each received a total of $4 million over the first four years of this Coalition Government, which was not only helping to fix local roads, but was putting downward pressure on rates.
"Maintaining local roads is one of the largest cost burdens on local government, so to have this program invest an additional $1 million a year is providing a major boost to rural councils," Mr Turner said.
"This additional $1 million a year goes directly into local roads and bridges, funding reseals, pothole repairs, bridge improvements or replacements and other important repair and maintenance work.
"This investment means Councils have an additional $1 million a year in their budgets, meaning they can spend more on other local roads or invest in other projects.
"It also means locals councils don't have to continuously go back to rate payers to pay for vital local road improvements, which is helping to keep rates lower for property owners, farmers and businesses."