Local roads and streets in Paterson will receive a major boost with $1.105 billion extra being made available to councils across Australia for vital road upgrades through the Roads to Recovery Programme over the next two years.

Federal Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin said the extra money will flow as a result of the passage through Federal Parliament of the fuel excise indexation legislation.

Councils and residents in Paterson will see more road works in their local area.

“Every resident understands the challenges this region faces with building necessary roads. The extra funding will increase Federal Government funding for Roads to Recovery from $700 million to $1 billion in 2015-16 and from $350 million to $1.155 billion in 2016-17,” Mr Baldwin said.

“This extra funding will deliver a tangible benefit and make our roads and streets safer and more reliable.”

Councils in Paterson will receive:
Great Lakes Council

New Allocation 2014-15 to 2018-1 is $6,888,408
New 15-16 Allocation up to $2,149,304
New 16-17 Allocation up to $2,482,088

Maitland City Council
New Allocation 2014-15 to 2018-1 is $5,427,898
New 15-16 Allocation up to $1,693,599
New 16-17 Allocation up to $1,955,825

Port Stephens Council
New Allocation 2014-15 to 2018-1 is $5,069,929
New 15-16 Allocation up to $1,581,907
New 16-17 Allocation up to $1,826,838

Dungog Shire Council
New Allocation 2014-15 to 2018-1 is $3,675,859
New 15-16 Allocation up to $1,146,933
New 16-17 Allocation up to $1,324,515

Mr Baldwin said the Roads to Recovery Programme has been a popular initiative since the Coalition Government introduced it in 2001.

“This is a massive boost in funding for our region’s road network and I am looking forward to seeing the additional opportunities this decision will create for our councils,” Mr Baldwin said.

“Over its almost 15 year history, Roads to Recovery has funded the repair and upgrade of more than 45,000 local streets and roads across Australia, the largest investment in Australia’s local roads ever undertaken. This includes scores of road and street projects in the Paterson electorate.”

The extra $1.105 billion being pumped into Roads to Recovery will be paid to councils under the usual formula as part of their regular quarterly payments without any requirement for councils to match the extra money.