The Australian Government announced $8 million in funding for the WA Regional Roads Australia Mobile Program (RRAMP) pilot program on Tuesday, 3 September 2024.
$50 million is being provided by the Australian Government nationally for pilot programs, which will deliver new or innovative solutions to meet the priorities of each state or territory. Design of the pilot programs will inform the national program, which is expected to be announced in 2025.
Once delivered, the pilot programs are expected to improve safety on roads, strengthen economic growth, improve social connectivity, and support regional development-including in WA.
The $16 million WA pilot will see the delivery of a competitive grants program, which will fund new and improved infrastructure and subsidies to attract service from at least two carriers.
The initiative follows the first Regional Connectivity Ministers Roundtable in August 2023, where states and territories agreed to partner with the Government to deliver the pilot programs, including the WA Government.
The WA Government is providing matching funding of $8 million and will target its pilot program at improving coverage on two key regional road transport corridors.
The WA pilot program will focus on Albany Highway between Bedfordale and Albany Airport and Great Eastern Highway between Bullabulling and Meckering, which travel through underserved towns. All three major carriers have a presence on parts of each route.
The pilot program in WA is expected to commence soon with applications planned to open before the end of the year.
