Residents of Phillip Island have received a major road safety boost today with the Australian Government announcing it will invest over $750,000 towards improving Cowes-Rhyll Road under the Australian Government’s 2018-19 Black Spot Program.
Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP said the Phillip Island community’s input had been critical to identifying key black spots in the electorate.
“Road crashes place major emotional and economic strains on all affected communities but particularly the families and friends of the victims,” Mr Hunt said.
“I am pleased to see that projects like Cowes-Rhyll Road in will be delivered under the 2018-19 funding round.
“Motorists living on and visiting the Island will also be pleased to know that this notorious black spot will be fixed with funding from the program.
“This project would not have been delivered without the community’s vital input, and I’d encourage all residents and motorists in the region to nominate projects for future funding rounds.”
The Minister Assisting the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Keith Pitt MP, announced the state would be receiving $5.5 million under the latest round of program funding.
“The Australian Government is committed to making roads safer in South Australia and right across the nation,” Mr Pitt said.
“As a Member of Parliament for a regional electorate myself I know first-hand how road crashes causing death and injury affect smaller communities, so I am very pleased to be able to announce today the details of how this round of black spot funding will be distributed.
“The Black Spot Program reduces fatal and injury crashes by 30 per cent – specifically targeting road locations with a history of crashes to deliver safety improvements such as road widening, increased lighting and signage and installing traffic lights and roundabouts.
“Under the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020, the Australian, state and territory governments have committed to reducing the numbers of deaths and serious injuries recorded on the nation’s roads by at least 30 per cent by 2020.
“Fixing the 24 black spot projects identified in South Australia today will play a crucial role in helping us to achieve that goal.”
The Australian Government is providing $744.5 million to the Black Spot Program between 2013-14 and 2021-22 to improve road safety across the nation.
For more information on the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, visit: http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots/.