I was pleased to see Northern Grampians Shire Council ranking among the top performing councils in Victoria and Australia for securing Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP) funding.
Thanks to the hard work of council staff, Northern Grampians Shire has secured significant funding under the Australian Government's SLRIP, which will deliver major upgrades to Phillips Road, Glenorchy, and Landsborough Road.
These two key routes support freight movement and regional connectivity.
The Phillips Road Upgrade Project has received $2.86 million in grant funding, delivering a total project value of $3.58 million, while the Landsborough Road Freight Safety and Productivity Project have secured $1.40 million, with a total project value of $1.75 million.
These projects focus on widening and sealing works to improve road safety, enhance freight efficiency and provide more reliable all-weather access for residents, agricultural producers and transport operators.
Together, these upgrades represent a targeted investment in critical infrastructure that supports the local economy, improves access across the municipality and strengthens the resilience of the road network.
Council's contribution of approximately 20 per cent has enabled the delivery of high-value outcomes, with each project aligning strongly with national funding priorities around safety, productivity and connectivity.
Importantly, these outcomes have been achieved entirely in-house by council's Infrastructure team, especially the Engineering Services team and ably supported by the Asset team.
From project identification and investigation through to development and submission, the work was led internally, reflecting a high level of capability, initiative and ownership.
This approach ensures that council continues to maximise external funding opportunities while
delivering practical, on-the-ground improvements that directly benefit the Northern Grampians community.
With 3370 kilometres of local roads, 419 bridges and major culverts along with footpaths, kerb and channel, drainage and signage, grant funding is critical for small rural councils such as ours, acting as a financial lifeline that bridges the gap between limited rates, revenue and the high cost of providing essential community services.
Because we have a small population and high per-capita costs for infrastructure and services, external funding is essential for our long-term sustainability.
A huge thank you to our team for your incredible hard work securing this much-needed funding.
Northern Grampians Shire has established an exceptional reputation as the ideal place to live, work invest and visit. With a diversified economy, affordable housing and key industries such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, there has never been a better time to invest in Northern Grampians Shire.
