Local councils across Australia will soon receive funding from the Federal Government for their priority community infrastructure projects.

The government is allocating $1 billion to be shared between the councils and is the third phase of its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.

The program is delivering a total of $2.5 billion to local governments across all three phases, with $1.5 billion already supporting over 6,100 projects nationwide.

Barnaby Joyce, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, said the funding will help drive the recovery of regional economies.

“This funding will go directly to local governments to help them deliver some of their priority projects, creating jobs and ensuring funding flows across our regions,” he said in a statement.

“From sealing rough regional roads and installing safety barriers, to upgrading sporting facilities and installing Wi-Fi networks, this program delivers the local projects that communities need and deserve.”

Projects to choose from

Councils can now begin nominating priority projects to receiving funding and guidelines for the third phase of the program have been posted online.

They can choose from a wide range of local road projects, including traffic signs, street lighting, rest areas, bridges, tunnels and road and sidewalk improvements.

Community infrastructure projects can include upgrading park and play facilities, improving bike and walking paths, or installing Wi-Fi networks and safety-boosting closed-circuit TV.

Kevin Hogan, Assistant Minister for Local Government, said the funding will help ensure that communities stay safe, strong and vibrant.

“Local councils have been putting in some hard yards supporting their communities through the toughest times of the last few years,” he said in a statement.

“This program also asks local councils to use local businesses and workforces to deliver their projects where possible, and that’s exactly what we have been seeing.

“Shovels can hit the ground on projects as soon as work schedules are approved, so I call on all local councils to work with us to get this funding out the door and benefitting their communities as soon as possible by nominating projects now.”

More information about the LRCI Program can be found here.

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