MORE road and community infrastructure projects will be rolled out across Wannon under a $500 million increase in funding for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program, announced at last week’s Federal budget.

Wannon MP, Dan Tehan said local councils would directly benefit from the funding boost.

“This funding injection for our hard-working local councils means even more funding for upgrades to local roads, bike paths, community halls, playgrounds, parks and sports facilities, as well as improved accessibility to public facilities,” Mr Tehan said.

“Providing more time for planning and construction will enable local governments to consider a broader range of priority projects and potentially undertake larger, more complex developments to deliver even great benefits for their communities.”

Councils in Wannon will receive the following payment through the Phase 3 extension of the LRCI Program:

• Ararat Rural City Council - $1,461,358
• Colac Otway Shire Council - $1,703,200
• Corangamite Shire Council - $2,285,555
• Glenelg Shire Council - $2,273,611
• Moyne Shire Council - $2,717,903
• Pyrenees Shire Council - $1,394,921
• Southern Grampians Shire Council - $1,985,254
• Surf Coast Shire Council - $1,051,060
• Warrnambool City Council - $425,024

Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce said the quick delivery of projects under the program would stimulate local economies.

“This highly successful program has supported an estimated 9,000 jobs and nearly 7,900 individual projects,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Our additional funding brings the total Commonwealth Government commitment to the Local Roads and Community Program to $3 billion.

“Delivering more local road and community infrastructure projects will make and towns and communities stronger and wealthier, and that is why we continue to invest in this vital initiative.”

Assistant Minister for Local Government, Kevin Hogan said the program formed part of the Liberal and Nationals commitment to back local councils and their communities through Covid-19 and secure a stronger future out the other side of the pandemic.

“Local councils have been putting in some hard yards supporting their communities through the toughest times of the last few years, so I’m thrilled to be putting even more funding in their hands to help them do that,” Mr Hogan said.

“This program also asks local councils to use local businesses and workforces to deliver their projects where possible and that’s exactly what we have been seeing, meaning these funds continue to flow on to hard-working Aussies, their families and then back into their communities.”

Councils will be able to access funding through the LRCI Phase 3 extension from July 2023.