WALGA seals new roads funding deal

The WA Government has signed a new five-year State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement (SRFLGA) with the WA Local Government Association (WALGA).

The agreement guarantees councils 20% of the revenue collected from the State’s vehicle licence fee collections to be allocated to local roads.

The agreement, first negotiated in 1995, reinforces the partnership between the State and local governments, providing a vital funding source towards the improvement and maintenance of the local government road network, said WA Premier, Roger Cook.

“This is a great example of State and local government working together to deliver road safety improvements across the State,” he said.

“My Government is proud to deliver this record funding agreement to ensure we are meeting the challenges of maintaining and improving the State’s vast road network.”

Overall funding for this latest agreement will equate to an estimated record investment amount of $1.38 billion to be allocated over the next five years, the Premier said.

Under the new agreement, commitments have been agreed between Main Roads and WALGA to address road safety objectives, increase Aboriginal employment and improve the use of recycled materials in road construction.

The local government-managed programs will receive 67% of annual funding in direct grants, road project grants, State Black Spot allocations and remote Aboriginal access roads.

The remaining 33% of funding goes to Main Roads managed programs, which include State initiatives on local roads, bridgeworks and bridge inspections, and traffic management, signs and pavement markings.

In total, the agreement will see nearly $253 million invested in local government roads this financial year.

WA Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti said the Government was committed to working collaboratively with local governments to ensure road networks are maintained and continue to be improved.

“This agreement will ensure we continue to maintain and improve Western Australia’s road network with a record amount of funding for local roads,” she said.

“The new Agreement has a strengthened focus on road safety objectives to align with the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, and to deliver outcomes aligned with the State’s priorities of increasing Aboriginal employment and use of recycled materials in road construction. 

“The agreement also brings a renewed focus to access roads for remote Aboriginal communities with $2.5 million allocated this financial year and further investments in the years ahead.”

WALGA President, Karen Chappel said the Association welcomed the commitment.

“The agreement is a vital source of funding providing certainty for local government and the communities they represent, for the term of the Agreement,” she said.

“The new State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement strengthens the partnership between the two tiers of Government and the shared effort to improve and maintain the State’s local road network.”

FUNDING BREAKDOWN BY REGION FOR 2023/24

*Note: Additional funding is also allocated to a number of non-region-specific programs and initiatives.