A $12.6 million Victorian Government package will boost road links between local farms and markets, the Premier John Brumby announced today.
In the Latrobe Valley, Mr Brumby announced a package which allocates funding across regional and rural Victoria to improve links between farms with processing centres and markets.
The funding, part of the Government’s successful Local Roads to Market Program, will go toward 54 infrastructure projects worth more than $26 million in 32 regional and rural councils.
“Our Government is taking action to generate a prosperous future for our regional food industries because we understand how important jobs and investment are to the liveability of our regions,” Mr Brumby said.
“Local Roads to Market funding goes to regional and rural councils for projects that better link farms with processing centres and markets such as in the dairy, timber, grain, fruit and processed foods sectors, and I am delighted to announce this third round of funding.
“It is about improving the efficiency and competitiveness of agricultural and horticultural producers and related industries by strategically upgrading local roads for large vehicle access.
“Today’s announcement brings to more than $23 million for 119 projects that we’ve helped fund through this popular program as well as the former Dairy Local Roads Program.”
Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the Local Roads to Market Program was an important part of the Victorian Government’s Regional Infrastructure Development Fund which has contributed more than $525 million to 288 projects worth more than $1.4 billion since its inception in 1999.
“The Brumby Labor Government’s strong investment in regional and rural Victoria is helping to create jobs and protect lifestyles,” Ms Allan said.
“We understand farmers and processors want faster and more reliable linkages to remain competitive and that’s why we’re upgrading these key road freight links.”
Councils in regional and rural Victoria were invited to submit proposals for the third round of Local Roads to Market Program funding, which closed on 30 October 2009. The councils which will receive round three funding include:
Alpine Shire, Ararat Rural City, Bass Coast Shire, Benalla Rural City, Buloke Shire, Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, Colac Otway Shire, Corangamite Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Glenelg Shire, Golden Plains Shire, Greater Shepparton, Hindmarsh Shire, Horsham Rural City, Indigo Shire, La Trobe City, Loddon Shire, Mildura Rural City, Mitchell Shire, Moira Shire, Moyne Shire, Northern Grampians Shire, Pyrenees Shire, South Gippsland Shire, Southern Grampians Shire, Towong Shire, City of Warrnambool, Wellington Shire, West Wimmera Shire, City of Wodonga and Yarriambiack Shire.