ALGA has joined forces with GrainGrowers, the National Farmers Federation and Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association to call for emergency funding of nearly $5.5 billion in the upcoming Federal Budget.
Representing stakeholders from across regional Australia including farmers, transporters and local councils, the Rural Road Alliance was formed in response to the critical challenges facing Australia’s rural road network in the wake of recent flooding and high rainfall.
ALGA CEO Matt Pinnegar said the ongoing impacts of climate change must prompt a fundamental shift in the way Australia funds, delivers and maintains its roads.
“The flooding, fires and cyclones we’ve seen over the past few years are unprecedented. What we need now is unprecedented funding – not just to repair our roads, but to strengthen them for future events,” Mr Pinnegar said.
In the lead up to the 2023-24 Federal Budget, the alliance has called for funding totalling nearly $5.5 billion, including:
- A one-off injection of $1 billion over four years directed at regional road and infrastructure reconstruction for councils impacted by flooding and other natural disasters to ensure the rebuild is to a standard more resilient to future disaster events;
- $800 million a year over four years for the Roads to Recovery Program;
- $300 million a year over four years to address first and last mile freight productivity; and,
- Targeted funding through the Roads of Strategic Importance program to improve the long-term climate resilience of freight networks.