A pilot program from the federal government looks to subsidise the costs of road surfacing and upgrading council-administered regional roads.
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Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce announced the $150 million Remote Roads Upgrade pilot program, which looks to target unsealed roads across Australia with funding.
Under the pilot, regional councils can have 80 to 100 per cent of funding covered by the government to upgrade unsealed roads and improve safety - including works such as resurfacing, removal of dangerous corners and vegetation management.
Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Transport Group chair and Northern Grampians Shire councillor Kevin Erwin said councils would "gratefully" accept any funding towards the often expensive bill of road maintenance.
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"All councils are under the pump a bit with road funding, so any funding that goes towards roads is great to see - particularly council roads which this is aimed at," he said.
"We should be spending more money than the ratepayers can afford is what it comes down to.
"We do the best with what we have got and this will be gratefully received for going that extra bit."
Cr Erwin said many of the roads in the Wimmera Southern Mallee were not fit for the volume and size of transport which used them.
"We have lobbied hard for C-class roads, which have narrow seals. We are getting limited success with that. There are plenty of roads that could do with an upgrade or resurface," he said.
"Even managing vegetation is a real challenge. This year we have seen particularly good growth in grasses so it will take a bit of handling.
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"Just keeping the trees clipped back and allowing the larger machinery to get around as they normally do. This will certainly aid in that.
"It is a pilot program so hopefully it will continue on for many years to come."
Exact details on when the funding will be available to councils has not yet been released.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the funding would make a measurable difference for many people in Mallee.
"The Liberal National government recognises local government often bears the brunt of the significant costs of upgrading rural and regional roads," she said.
"We are stepping in to back councils to be able to undertake these crucial works.
"Even the most remote people in our community should be able to easily and safely access their local schools, shops, places of work and places of worship."
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