South Australian Local Government Association calls for certainty on local road funding in 2018-19 Federal Budget

THE Federal Budget will spend big on major arterial transport routes but SA councils say it must also lock in road maintenance funding for local streets due to expire next year.

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THE Federal Budget must lock in road maintenance funding for crucial suburban routes that is due to run out next year, SA councils say.

The priority list for improvements focuses on roads and streets in both metropolitan and country areas that are heavily used by local traffic, rather than major arterial thoroughfares.

The South Australian Local Government Association has written to federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael McCormack seeking funding certainty.

The Federal Government committed an extra $40 million to the Identified Local Roads Grant program this financial year, to be spent over two years, but the money runs out in mid-2019.

Funding will then return to annual levels of about half that amount.

Playford Council Mayor Glenn Docherty said his region — the fastest-growing council area in the state — needed future funds “to widen, upgrade and build critical road infrastructure”.

“Three of our priority arterial connectors are Curtis Rd in Angle Vale and the Andrews Farm roads of Stebonheath Rd and Andrews Rd,” he said.

Mr Docherty said the extra federal money would foster growth and economic development in the area “while easing the burden on our ratepayers”.

Roads to have been upgraded already include Morphett Rd, Ashwin Pde and Military Rd in the West Torrens Council area.

The Advertiser revealed on Monday that SA will benefit from a $1.8 billion cash injection for major road and rail projects in today’s Budget.

It is understood there will be further infrastructure announcements for SA in coming weeks, but they were not ready to be signed off for the Budget given the recent change of State Government.

LGA SA president Lorraine Rosenberg said future Identified Local Roads Grants were needed to maintain roads which contribute to national productivity.

SA councils manage 11 per cent of the nation’s local road network, or about 75,000km, but receive only 5.5 per cent of national funding, she said.

The Federal Budget will deliver $24.5 billion in funding for new major transport projects and initiatives across the country.

Most of the SA funding will be dedicated to completing key parts of the South Rd upgrade in a bid to meet the Coalition’s “done in a decade” promise.