John Cobb, Federal Member for Calare has announced Cabonne Council will receive more than $1.2 million in government funding under the National Black Spot Programme. This funding will assist the completion of at least five Council road projects, scheduled to take place during the 2015/2016 financial year.
This funding couldn’t come soon enough; many roads in the Cabonne district are unsafe and in desperate need of an upgrade. The Black Spot Programme is an initiative set up to create safer roads, improve travel times and provide local jobs for local people. “Black spot projects target dangerous roads to save lives and reduce road trauma, ensuring our local road network is safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Cobb said.
The Cabonne projects, which were assessed by a panel of independent road safety experts will include the installation of an overtaking lane on Cargo Road, removing roadside hazards, installing curve alignment markers and widening shoulders on other roads around the district. Parkes Shire, Bathurst Regional and Cowra Councils also received funding for similar road improvement projects.
Community groups and individuals are invited to nominate roads they think need upgrading and are advised by Cabonne Council to liase with them. “The Black Spot Programme targets locations where accidents are likely to occur,” said Mr Cobb. “The programme not only reduces the accident risk in Cabonne, but throughout Australia and plays a vital role in reducing the road toll.”