$6.7M in funding for heavy vehicle rest areas announced

The Australian Government is funding $6.7 million into new and upgraded rest areas to improve road safety and productivity.

The funding is the first portion of the Australian Government’s $140 million Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas Program, which aims to increase heavy vehicle user safety and productivity through vital new and upgraded rest areas.

In Queensland, the rest area facility at the eastern approach to Roma on the Warrego Highway will be upgraded with $1.12 million from the Australian Government and $280,000 from the Maranoa Regional Council.

In Tasmania, the truck stop upgrade on Glenstone Road/Strong Street at Bridgewater will be funded with $360,000 from the Australian Government and $90,000 from Brighton Council.

In South Australia, $3.8 million will go towards the Salt Creek Rest Area project which will deliver five parking bays.

In Victoria, 35 Truck Informal Rest Areas (TIRAs) will be sealed and green reflectors installed on four highways within Gippsland, with $2.17 million from the Australian Government and $542,000 from the Victorian Government.

Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Carol Brown, said the Government is committed to keeping heavy vehicle drivers and other road users safe through programs like the Heavy Rest Area initiative.

“We want to support our hard-working truck drivers to rest when they need to and keep freight moving safely and that’s why this government supporting new and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas,” she said.

“Projects under this initiative will also create construction jobs and opportunities for local suppliers and businesses, boosting local economies and driving their growth.”

Under the initiative, State Governments and local councils are eligible to apply for Australian Government funding of up to $5 million per project.

Projects must be co-funded, with the Australian Government providing up to 80 per cent of costs for projects in regional areas, and up to 50 per cent of costs for projects in urban areas.

In other news, the New South Wales Government is continuing to invest in vital safety upgrades to the Monaro Highway, with work set to begin on the next stage of a $20 million program.

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