The Albanese Labor Government continues to support local governments across South Australia improve road safety and reduce long-term road maintenance, with $21.7 million flowing to 34 projects under the latest round of the Special Local Roads Program.
Unique to South Australia, the program enables the state's 68 councils to pool together a portion of their federal road funding - and distribute it through competitive grants.
This supports the delivery of high priority projects that would otherwise exceed an individual council's capacity - with $17.9 million from this round flowing to regional and rural roads, and $3.8 million to metro projects.
Stretching from the Lower Eyre Peninsula to the Limestone Coast, projects will improve road safety, boost tourism access to key parts of the state, and help reduce congestion.
Works will include resealing and reconstruction of roads, shoulder widening, and improvements to kerbs and gutters.
This includes $993,000 to complete the third and final stage of the Billiatt Road reconstruction in the District Council of Loxton Waikerie.
As the gateway to the Billiatt Conservation Park and the main tourism route in the region, the works will seal and widen the road from 6.2 metres to 7.6 metres to accommodate increased traffic, including road trains.
Improving the safety of Hawker Street, Brompton is something the local community has long called for - with $600,000 flowing to the City of Charles Sturt to reconstruct the road, and to upgrade street lighting.
The City of Holdfast Bay will receive $200,000 to improve the safety of the emu school crossing on Partridge Street, Glenelg and to upgrade the roundabout at Colley Terrace and Anzac Highway, which will reduce congestion.
Nationally, the Albanese Government is delivering significant funding increases to support local councils deliver their priority projects.
The Roads to Recovery program is progressively increasing from $500 million to $1 billion per year, with South Australian councils receiving $395 million over five years - an increase of $153 million.
The Road Black Spot Program is increasing to $150 million per year, and $200 million per year is available under our new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program - with both programs open for applications year-round.
