LAKE Macquarie City Council has received more than $7 million funding from the Australian Government in the latest allocation from the Roads to Recovery Program.
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The $7,009,553 allocation to Lake Macquarie over five years is the highest amount received by any of the six Hunter councils who share more than $23 million under the round of funding.
Funding from the Roads to Recovery Program have previously helped Lake Macquarie City Council to carry out significant improvements on Mandalong and Ruttleys roads.
A council spokesperson said the new money would be put to good use.
“Council welcomes the Australian Government’s continued commitment to the Roads to Recovery program as it allows us to improve the safety and quality of the local road network,” they said.
The five-year allocation is based on the Financial Assistance Grants received by each council.
“Council’s allocation for the next five years is $7 million, and the specific works to be delivered under this program are yet to be determined,” the spokesperson said.
“In the past, these funds have contributed to the sealing of Mandalong Road, Mandalong, and the upgrade and widening of Ruttleys Road, Wyee.”
The funding program has guidelines on where and how the money should be spent.
“Council needs to nominate the projects that will be funded under the program in July 2019, to receive the first payment in August 2019,” the council said.
Liberal Senator in NSW, Arthur Sinodinos, said the funding was crucial for Hunter councils.
“These allocations under the Roads to Recovery Program are great news for the Hunter,” Senator Sinodinos said.
“The funding provides councils with the ability to invest in upgrading local roads, thereby helping to improve safety and efficiency levels for all users of the network and economic growth in their communities.”
The allocations for the Hunter region have been calculated using the proportion of Financial Assistance Grants that each local governing body receives and updated assessments undertaken by local government grants commissions.
The allocations for councils in the Hunter over the 2019−20 to 2023−24 period are.-
- Lake Macquarie City Council – $7,009,553;
- Muswellbrook Shire Council – $2,311,591;
- Singleton Council – $3,264,341;
- Newcastle City Council – $4,585,884;
- Maitland City Council – $3,491,030; and
- Port Stephens Council – $3,122,109.
