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$1 million boost for road and bridge maintenance

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, today announced East Gippsland Shire will receive a $1 million grant from the Victorian Coalition Government’s Country Roads and Bridges Fund.

“The four year Country Roads and Bridges Program is now in its third year and provides up to $1 million, per council, per year to 40 rural councils.

“This is a total of $160 million of additional funds to improve the condition of roads and bridges in rural Victoria,” Mr Bull said.

East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor, Cr Mark Reeves, said Council will spend $1 million on significant upgrades to the Wallagaraugh River Bridge at Genoa.

“This grant will allow Council to replace the bridge’s deck and abutments – which are timber – with concrete and steel,” Cr Reeves said.

“This will significantly reduce Council’s maintenance costs for this asset, with construction work set to commence in 2014, following a tender process.”

Wellington Shire Council is also set to receive $1m from the program which will be used to:

•    improve the road surface on sections of Woranga School Road at Yarram; Tip Road at Seaspray and Billy Creek Road at Staceys Bridge; and

•    renewal works on the McLean Street Bridge at Yarram and Pogues Bridge at Carrajung South.

Mr Bull said the 2013-14 Victorian Budget also included $170 million for road maintenance including $90 million which will go towards renewing deteriorated roads by strengthening the pavement and a further $80 million for resurfacing works to make roads more resilient to wet weather.

“The $170 million package will be delivered across three years, and will be a big improvement on the previous system that allocated funds on an annual basis,” Mr Bull said.