BRIDGES RENEWAL APPLICATIONS CLOSE TUESDAY 5 FEBRUARY

MEMBER for Riverina Michael McCormack is calling on Riverina and Central West councils to ensure their applications for bridge upgrade funding under Round 4 of the Bridges Renewal Program are in for assessment by Tuesday 5 February 2019. 

Mr McCormack said the Bridges Renewal Program provided up to half the cost of repairing or replacing old and unsafe local bridges. 

“Under the program, the Government will provide $480 million for vitally important bridgeworks between 2015 and 2022, with an ongoing commitment of $60 million each year following,” Mr McCormack said. 

“Around 220 projects funded under the first three rounds of the program have already either been completed or are well underway.” Around $80 million is available to councils under Round 4 of the Program. 

“Successful projects will be selected as part of an open, merit-based process designed to ensure that both the successful councils and the Liberal and Nationals Government get maximum value for money from the program,” Mr McCormack said. 

“We encourage all interested councils to finalise their funding applications before Round 4 closes this Tuesday. 

“Limiting access to the program to local councils ensures that available funds go directly towards projects designed to stimulate local economies in the short term and provide safer, more efficient regional road corridors over the longer term. 

“Round 4 presents local councils with a golden opportunity to replace their old timber bridges with, for example, higher, wider concrete bridges to ensure all users of the local road network enjoy safer, quicker and more reliable journeys.” 

For application forms and details about the program visit: https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure_investment/bridges_renewal.aspx.