The Federal Government is reminding local governments about funding available through the Roads to Recovery program, and roads and community infrastructure projects funded through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.
Roads to Recovery
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is encouraging councils to submit projects and draw on remaining funds before the current period ends.
To access remaining funds, councils must finalise their work schedule and provide a 1 January – 31 March 2024 quarterly report with projected expenditure to 30 June 2024. This will enable payments to be made by mid-May 2024 with funding to be spent by 31 December 2024.
Councils can use the Department’s Infrastructure Management System to access and update their project and funding information, and are encouraged to contact Roads.toRecovery@infrastructure.gov.au with any specific questions.
LRCI program
Project construction for phases 1, 2 and 3 of the LRCI program is required by 30 June 2024. Councils looking to amend their work schedule must do so before 30 April 2024.
For phase 4, most councils now have an approved work schedule for project construction by 30 June 2025.
The Department also reminds councils without an approved work schedule for phase 4 to submit their proposed projects for approval to LRCIP@infrastructure.gov.au.
Councils have a short time left to ensure they can access remaining funds under both programs, with reporting required by 30 April 2024.