Duty MLC for Barwon, Bathurst, Cootamundra, Dubbo and Orange Hon, Stephen Lawrence has welcomed the Minns Labor Government’s recent announcement of investing nearly $46 million in 16 new safety projects under its Towards Zero Safer Roads Program as part of a campaign to reduce crashes and save lives on roads in the regions of New South Wales.
This funding includes funding for the west of the State including Young, Dubbo and the Liverpool Plains, and for Junee in the Riverina. The funding targets are:
• Key inland highways and corridors including the New England Highway ($7.9 million), Newell Highway ($8.6 million), Mitchell Highway ($3 million), Kamilaroi Highway ($2.2 million, Summerland Way ($2.1 million) and Olympic Highway ($1.7 million).
These upgrades are designed to reduce road trauma by addressing high-risk areas and improving infrastructure and are projected to prevent more than 2,000 fatal or serious injuries. Works include shoulder widening, new safety barriers, widening of centre lines, audio tactile markings and other improvements to help motorists.
Rural Road Safety Month is an annual initiative led by the Australian Road Safety Foundation and supported by the Minns Labor Government. It aims to raise awareness about the unique risks faced on country roads. This year’s theme is ‘Step Up For Rural Road Safety’. While one third of NSW residents live in regional areas, more than two-thirds of all road fatalities occur on country roads.
To learn more about the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program, visit: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/towards-zero-safer-roads-program.