Further $26 million to fix Parkes roads

In a massive win for the Parkes electorate, 19 new road upgrades worth more than $26 million are rolling out under the latest round of the Australian and NSW Governments’ accelerated Fixing Local Roads program to improve local roads and create thousands of local jobs in the regions.

This funding will help 17 local councils in the electorate tackle the increasing amount of work required to provide safe roads for their communities, like repairing, patching, maintaining and sealing.

One of the biggest projects will be the upgrade of Jobs Gate Road, with Brewarrina Shire Council receiving $5 million to undertake a seal extension.

Bourke Shire Council has received $4.9 million to complete sealing of six roads in the shire, while Cobar Shire Council has welcomed $2.8 million for the sealing of Wilga Downs Road.

Safe, reliable roads are essential infrastructure for communities in the bush, so it’s great to see all levels of governments working together to deliver these critical upgrades.

The $243.6 million first round of the program last year is delivering 38 projects across the Parkes electorate, and now we’re building on that with a further $150 million in round two.

Parkes projects – Fixing Local Roads Round 2 funding:

• Bogan Shire Council – Pangee Street resurfacing – $974,783
• Bourke Shire Council  – Coronga Peak Road, Toorale Road, Weelong Road, Weir Road, River Road and Parkdale Road sealing – $4,900,000
• Brewarrina Shire Council – Jobs Gate Road seal extension – $5,000,000
• Broken Hill City Council – Comstock Street and Piper Street Intersection and Comstock Street and Hebbard Street rehabilitation – $397,613
• Broken Hill City Council – Galena Street heavy patching and reconstruction – $150,075
• Cobar Shire Council – Wilga Downs Road sealing – $2,789,951
• Coonamble Shire Council – Carinda Road patching and sealing – $569,943
• Dubbo Regional Council – Old Mendooran Road sealing – $1,370,524
• Gilgandra Shire Council – Berida Bullagreen Road rehabilitation – $301,070
• Gunnedah Shire Council – Stock Road reconstruction – $411,375
• Gwydir Shire Council – Oregon Road resheeting – $1,790,525
• Lachlan Shire Council – Merribogie Road widen and reseal – $1,260,000
• Moree Plains Shire Council – Terry Hie Hie Road sealing      $1,539,563
• Narrabri Shire Council – Doreen Lane rehabilitation – $1,641,944
• Narromine Shire Council – Farrendale Road gravel resheet – $304,000
• Narromine Shire Council – Raeburn Lane rehabilitation – $334,400
• Walgett Shire Council – Lorne Road reconstruction and sealing – $2,070,000
• Warren Shire Council – Ellengerah Road rehabilitation – $698,771
• Warrumbungle Shire Council – Tongy Lane rehabilitation     $272,513

$81 million for Basin projects

Last week I was pleased to announce that six environmental projects that will benefit Basin communities in the Parkes electorate – worth a whopping $81 million – have been approved for funding through the Northern Basin Toolkit.

The Coalition Government will provide $57.20 million for the installation of fishways in the Barwon-Darling river system and in the Border Rivers region to improve native fish access to 2,135 kilometres of aquatic habitat, connecting the Southern and Northern Basin and into Queensland.

A further $20.75 million will be used to screen the intakes of small to large water extraction pumps to reduce fish entrainment in diverted flow from the Barwon-Darling and Mehi Rivers.

Another $2.89 million will go towards the construction of regulators and fixed-crest weirs on and adjacent to the Macquarie River to improve the delivery of environmental water into the Macquarie Marshes.

More than $1 million will also be used for business case development projects in the west of the Gwydir Valley and Gingham Watercourse to clear barriers in rivers, floodplains and wetlands.

These Toolkit measures, along with other activities in the northern Basin, will create opportunities for our local communities, improve river management across the northern Basin and protect water for the environment.

Upskilling our regional workforce

Applications are now open for the Coalition Government’s Future of Work Partnership with BHP.

Up to 1,000 people living in regional areas have the opportunity to study a short course from this year, or start an Advanced Apprenticeship later this year, with their student contribution covered through the partnership programs.

Students who meet the eligibility criteria may also be eligible for other financial support.

This partnership is part of the Government’s focus on giving regional Australians the opportunity to boost their skills and improve their employability.

I encourage school leavers or anyone in the electorate who is looking to upskill or reskill to apply for this opportunity.

For more information, including how to apply, visit https://regionalfutureofwork.com/.