Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport and Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz has announced new funding for multiple road and bridge projects in the Scenic Rim.
Mr Buchholz said the region will receive a share of more than $290 million in Australian Government funding under Round 5 of the Bridges Renewal Program (BRP) and Round 7 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP).
“I am pleased to see five projects across the Scenic Rim share in funding under the latest rounds of these two programs.
“This funding provides Council with the capacity to get on with projects that may otherwise be a number of years away. In partnering with local councils, we can get key routes, for residents and freight operators, upgraded.
“Upgrades such as the Duck Creek Bridge on Kerry Road will better connect product to market in the Kerry Valley, while the Hinchcliffe Bridge upgrade will improve flood resilience and accessibility for the Kooralbyn community, not to mention the benefits to other heavy vehicle and key routes across the region,” Mr Buchholz said.
“That improves road safety, getting residents home sooner and safer. It increases freight productivity which is great for businesses and ensures our community is better connected, when upgraded timber bridges are more resilient to natural disasters.
“Further to that, this funding will have a big impact on supporting local jobs and businesses, and growing the regional economy,” Mr Buchholz said.
Mayor of the Scenic Rim, Greg Christensen welcomed the funding and thanked Scott Buchholz for continuing to deliver road and infrastructure funding in the Scenic Rim.
“I thank Scott Buchholz for his strong advocacy, in supporting Council to deliver our bridge upgrade program and improvements to the regions freight network.
“We move a significant amount of freight out of the Scenic Rim each and every day and that freight task is growing each year. By upgrading our freight routes, we’re making the roads safer, improving the productivity for local businesses and driving growth in this space.
“Our region has also had more than its fair share in natural disasters in recent years. We’ve seen the benefits of having the upgrade infrastructure in place, ensuring access between communities is maintained and essential services can efficiently get on the ground to assist,” Cr Christensen said.
Mr Buchholz said nearly 80 per cent of this funding was going to local councils, with 350 plus projects being delivered across Australia.
“It is vital that we continue to roll out our strong infrastructure investment, now more than ever given the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Investing in infrastructure is a win-win for the community, not only does it mean jobs and economic activity, and that will drive economic growth, it also means Scenic Rim residents can reach their destinations sooner and safer and communities can rest assured that’s exactly what our Government is doing.
Mr Buchholz said the Australian Government would continue to invest in critical infrastructure, particularly in drought hit and fire affected regions.
“In this latest round of funding, 50 per cent or $146.97 million in funding is supporting local government areas affected by bushfires, drought or both,” Mr Buchholz said.
“Already more than 500 projects funded through the BRP and HVSPP across the country have either been completed or are well underway and I look forward to getting shovels in the ground on these next projects.”
For more information and a list of successful applicants, visit:
www.infrastructure.gov.au/bridges
www.infrastructure.gov.au/hvspp
Ends.
Media Contact: Mr Buchholz – Scott O’Connell 0413 424 384
