THE upcoming state Budget will include $50 million to continue the Fixing Country Roads program across the state.
Round two of the program developed under Roads and Freight Minister Duncan Gay will target 64 projects to remove freight constraints and follows funding of $43m allocation from last financial year.
“By building better infrastructure on council owned roads and bridges – we are getting product to market quicker – cutting costs right across the supply chain including on the supermarket shelves.
“About 75 per cent of projects under round one are either open or near completion, with all round one projects to be completed this year.”
The second round of the program is expected to attract more than $100m in addition funding from federal and local governments as well as industry.
Funding allocations are assessed by an independent panel, including local government and including Local Government NSW, Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association, NSW Farmers, NRMA.
Round two of the program is the second instalment of a $500m funding commitment from state government.
The Department also performs bridge assessments to determine viable candidates for increased loads.
Projects not selected by the Panel in this round may be able to access funding in future rounds and successful councils will be notified.
Visit freight.transport.nsw.gov.au for more information.
Funding to focus on drought preparation
INCREASED demand for services has driven NSW government to commit $93 million in drought funding in the 2016-17 Budget, according to Primary Industries, Lands and Water Minister Niall Blair.
“We’ve committed to providing more than $300 million to farm businesses through our NSW Drought Strategy through until 2019-20,” Mr Blair said.
“Already this strategy has enabled a range of practical support for farmers – including critical funding for the installation of common-sense permanent infrastructure like fodder storage, stock and domestic water supply, and fencing.”
The majority of money, $68m has been allocated to preventative measures under the Farm Innovation Fund, which and provides long-term low-interest loans to farm businesses to install or upgrade permanent on-farm infrastructure.
The funding package includes:
- $9m for farmers to undertake vocational training and farm business planning to prepare for future droughts under the Farm Business Skills Professional Development Program.
- $2m to partner with the Bureau of Meteorology to develop an enhanced network of weather stations across NSW.
- $1.2m to provide transport assistance for animal welfare and donated fodder within NSW.
- $1m for Rural Support Workers to support drought-affected farmers and rural communities.
