FEDERAL Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin has welcomed delivery of the Australian Government’s $2.1 billion Roads to Recovery programme, announcing that councils in the electorate of Paterson will receive $13.8 million for local road construction and street repairs.

“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss is writing to all councils advising them of their full allocations for the 2014-15 to 2018-19 Roads to Recovery programme,” said Mr Baldwin.

The Government announced it was doubling Roads to Recovery payments to councils next year (2015-16) to $700 million, in the 2014 Federal Budget.

The programme will allow councils to make road spending decisions based on local needs, without interference from Canberra, to ensure that funding is truly directed to where it is most needed in the community.

Four local councils in Paterson will be receiving their funding allocations in November with Great Lakes being at the top.

The breakdown is that Great Lakes Council will receive $4,514,033.

Then Maitland City Council will get $3,556,948, Port Stephens Council $3,322,368 and Dungog Shire Council $2,408,822.

“Labor and The Greens’ unnecessary five-month delay in passing the legislation meant that the August payment was delayed,” Bob Baldwin said.

“However, the Government will make up the delayed allocation to councils this financial year. Local needs should not suffer because of Labor’s political games.”

Mr Baldwin said that he has always maintained good roads are a pathway to prosperity for communities.

“Each council’s Roads to Recovery allocation is fixed for the life of the programme, so they are guaranteed a source of funding,” he said.

“In other words councils can plan, prepare and initiate works with a guaranteed source of funding,” said Mr Baldwin.