Local road safety projects are rolling out across the North Coast in a $35 million blitz designed to reduce road trauma and save lives.
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the Australian and NSW Governments were working together to ensure works start immediately and are completed by June to get people home sooner and safer.
“I know just how important safe, efficient road connections are to local communities,” Mr Hogan said.
“That’s why we are rolling out this funding to deliver lifesaving upgrades including shoulder sealing, noise strips to alert drivers when they are moving out of their lane, median upgrades to prevent head-on collisions and barriers to prevent run-off-road crashes and protect against roadside hazards.”
State Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said it was fantastic to see the Australian and NSW Governments working together to deliver positive outcomes for our community.
“This is going to fund some really important road safety improvements, notably around South Grafton High School, McAuley College Grafton and Gulmarrad Primary School,” Mr Gulaptis said.
“These projects will help prevent the loss of lives and serious injuries on our roads.”
State Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said this investment demonstrated both governments’ commitments to improving road safety.
“We want to keep improving our roads to keep driving down the road toll,” Mr Singh said.
“Boosting local infrastructure also means boosting jobs. This helps our local economy so we can continue to recover from COVID-19.”
State Member of the Legislative Council Ben Franklin said both Governments were doing everything possible to get residents home sooner and safer.
“We know how important these upgrades will be to our local community and that’s why we are funding them.”
The Australian Government’s funding for the Road Safety Program is subject to ‘use it or lose it’ provisions and will deliver life-saving treatments on regional roads.
The ‘use it or lose it’ provisions require States and Territories to use their notionally allocated funds within a timeframe, or the funds can be reallocated to projects in other jurisdictions.
Projects funded across the Page electorate include:
- $4,024,810 for pavement rehabilitation, shoulder widening, superelevation, delineation and signposting on the Clarence Way between Woodenbong and Urbenville.
- $6,708,016 to upgrade the existing seal to high level non-skid surface, including grooving, to improve skid resistance at HW10 South Bound, Chatsworth Island.
- $288,445 for Gulmarrad Primary School – Safety Improvements for School Access including pedestrians
- $2,012,405 to upgrade the existing seal to high level non-skid surface, including grooving, to improve skid resistance at Jackadgery Creek.
- $184,600 to upgrade road safety on the Bruxner Highway in South Lismore
- $2,250,000 for a shared pathway at Broadwater and Maclean on the Pacific Highway.
- $192,295 for cyclist treatments on the Summerland Way in Casino
- $202,582 for pedestrian safety around South Grafton High School
- $268,321 for pedestrian safety around McAuley Catholic College (South Grafton)
- $536,641 to install a flexible safety barrier on Solitary Islands Way from Emerald Beach to Moonee Beach
- $11,708,016 to install audio line markings, barrier installation and shoulder widening in various locations across the Clarence Valley.
- $4,024,810 for upgrades on the Bruxner Highway at Rodgers Road
- $2,683,207 for Stage 2 of road upgrades at Clunes.
- $200,000 for realignment works on the Pacific Highway at Serpentine Channel Rd
