❓ Mr. Aubrey asks about the Cook Labor government's support for local governments in road infrastructure investment, and job creation. The Minister responds by highlighting the State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement, a $1.38 billion investment over five years.
AnsweredQoN 659Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT —
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
659. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
record investment in road infrastructure across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is supporting local
governments to deliver even more investment in WA's road network?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this investment will create local jobs and
support small business across our state?
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
659. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
record investment in road infrastructure across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is supporting local
governments to deliver even more investment in WA's road network?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this investment will create local jobs and
support small business across our state?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question and for his
continued close working relationship with his local government, the City
of Stirling, on roads and all of those other matters he deals with on behalf of
his community.
As
a former local government councillor, along with several members in this
chamber, one of the first things I learnt in local government was about
roads. I learnt about the importance of not cutting the road budget and making
sure that we continue to seal and maintain those roads where we can because if
we do not, they cost more in the future. I remember being at a really early
stage in my career at the City of Stirling. I was shown a couple of road
profiles and told that the road base would be ruined if water got in. Because
of that, and because of the importance that roads have to local governments
across our state, I was very proud yesterday to attend the Western Australian
Local Government Association state conference and witness the signing of the
latest State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement. This agreement, which is
the sixth of its type, reinforces the strong working partnerships between the
state and local governments, and was signed by the Premier; Deputy Premier;
WALGA president, Karen Chappel; and the director general of Transport. The
agreement was first negotiated in 1995 and provides a vital funding source to
local governments in WA for the improvement and maintenance of our state's
roads and bridges. The five-year agreement guarantees councils 20 per cent of
the revenue collected from the state's motor vehicle licence fee collections to be allocated to local roads. It will
deliver a record $1.38 billion investment in local road projects to be
allocated over the next five years. The agreement is intended to ensure that
the available funds are allocated right across our state, focusing on areas of
strategic importance that will provide
maximum benefit. Funding will be split into two categories. Local government–managed
programs will receive 67 per cent of
the annual funding in direct grants, road project grants, state black spot
allocations and remote Aboriginal
community access roads. The remaining 33 per cent will go to Main Roads–managed programs, which include state initiatives on local roads, bridge works,
bridge inspections, traffic management signs and pavement markings. Under this
new agreement, there is an increased focus on the government and community
priorities of road safety, increasing Aboriginal employment and the use of
recycled materials in road construction. There is also a strengthened focus on
road safety, aligning with the national road safety strategy, which aims to
reduce the annual number of fatalities by 50 per cent and the number of serious
injuries by 30 per cent in a safe system treatment approach.
In addition, over $5 million per annum has been allocated towards active
transport, which is infrastructure currently administered by the transport
portfolio. I am proud to be part of the Cook Labor government, which is committed to working closely with local
governments to deliver this record funding. The continued commitment and
collaboration between both levels of government provides certainty of funding to
meet the ongoing challenge of maintaining and improving the road network.
While I am on my feet, I also
congratulate WALGA, which ran the conference yesterday where this agreement was
signed. There were nearly 600 delegates. Several members here witnessed some
incredibly good presentations on the future of our state, our communities and
local government, and had the good opportunity to see me and the Leader of the
Opposition, two good-looking lads, up on stage for half an hour having a panel.
Congratulations to Nick Sloan, Karen Chappel and everyone at WALGA; and
congratulations to the Premier and Deputy Premier on signing a road agreement
for the next five years.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central with the last question.
continued close working relationship with his local government, the City
of Stirling, on roads and all of those other matters he deals with on behalf of
his community.
As
a former local government councillor, along with several members in this
chamber, one of the first things I learnt in local government was about
roads. I learnt about the importance of not cutting the road budget and making
sure that we continue to seal and maintain those roads where we can because if
we do not, they cost more in the future. I remember being at a really early
stage in my career at the City of Stirling. I was shown a couple of road
profiles and told that the road base would be ruined if water got in. Because
of that, and because of the importance that roads have to local governments
across our state, I was very proud yesterday to attend the Western Australian
Local Government Association state conference and witness the signing of the
latest State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement. This agreement, which is
the sixth of its type, reinforces the strong working partnerships between the
state and local governments, and was signed by the Premier; Deputy Premier;
WALGA president, Karen Chappel; and the director general of Transport. The
agreement was first negotiated in 1995 and provides a vital funding source to
local governments in WA for the improvement and maintenance of our state's
roads and bridges. The five-year agreement guarantees councils 20 per cent of
the revenue collected from the state's motor vehicle licence fee collections to be allocated to local roads. It will
deliver a record $1.38 billion investment in local road projects to be
allocated over the next five years. The agreement is intended to ensure that
the available funds are allocated right across our state, focusing on areas of
strategic importance that will provide
maximum benefit. Funding will be split into two categories. Local government–managed
programs will receive 67 per cent of
the annual funding in direct grants, road project grants, state black spot
allocations and remote Aboriginal
community access roads. The remaining 33 per cent will go to Main Roads–managed programs, which include state initiatives on local roads, bridge works,
bridge inspections, traffic management signs and pavement markings. Under this
new agreement, there is an increased focus on the government and community
priorities of road safety, increasing Aboriginal employment and the use of
recycled materials in road construction. There is also a strengthened focus on
road safety, aligning with the national road safety strategy, which aims to
reduce the annual number of fatalities by 50 per cent and the number of serious
injuries by 30 per cent in a safe system treatment approach.
In addition, over $5 million per annum has been allocated towards active
transport, which is infrastructure currently administered by the transport
portfolio. I am proud to be part of the Cook Labor government, which is committed to working closely with local
governments to deliver this record funding. The continued commitment and
collaboration between both levels of government provides certainty of funding to
meet the ongoing challenge of maintaining and improving the road network.
While I am on my feet, I also
congratulate WALGA, which ran the conference yesterday where this agreement was
signed. There were nearly 600 delegates. Several members here witnessed some
incredibly good presentations on the future of our state, our communities and
local government, and had the good opportunity to see me and the Leader of the
Opposition, two good-looking lads, up on stage for half an hour having a panel.
Congratulations to Nick Sloan, Karen Chappel and everyone at WALGA; and
congratulations to the Premier and Deputy Premier on signing a road agreement
for the next five years.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central with the last question.
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