The local agricultural sector will benefit from a whopping $1.8 million being invested by the Federal Coalition Government to improve local roads and community assets in the Moree Plains Shire Council area.

Federal Member for Parkes and Minister for Local Government Mark Coulton was today joined by Moree Plains Shire Council Acting Director of Engineering Services, Alan Lawrance, to discuss the Shire’s projects to be funded under the first round of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.

“It’s fantastic to see plans for local roadworks in the Moree Plains Shire are charging ahead using funds under the LRCI program,” Mr Coulton said.

“One of the projects moving ahead under the program is a shire-wide gravel re-sheeting initiative funded with $987,679 under the LRCI, and an additional commitment of $350,000 Roads to Recovery funding, along with Council’s contribution of $600,000.

“Many of the Shire’s roads provide critical access for primary producers to transport their produce to market, and with harvest already underway for many local producers, gravel re-sheeting has never been more important.

“In the 2020–21 Budget, the Australian Government announced a $1 billion extension of the LRCI program, following strong community and local government support. This extension brings the total LRCI funding allocation for Moree Plains Shire Council to $3.37 million, which is excellent news for the local community.”

Local projects approved in the Moree Plains Shire Council area under the first round of the LRCI program include:

• Shire-wide gravel re-sheeting ($987,679)
• Painting/improvements to community facilities at Moree Civic Precinct ($640,959)
• Painting/improvements to village halls ($100,000)
• Balo Street – bicycle and walking paths ($86,250)

Mr Lawrance said Council’s gravel re-sheeting program is critical to the local agricultural sector using the rural road network.

“Council’s gravel re-sheeting program is very important as it allows for transportation of produce off-farm to grain receivals,” Mr Lawrance said.

“This funding will allow for 32 kilometres of gravel re-sheeting to be undertaken on certain unsealed roads identified according to Council’s level of service.”

For more information on the LRCI program, visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure_investment/local-roads-community-infrastructure-program