The Australian Local Government Association, state/territory local government associaitions and individual councils across the country are conducting a broad campaign to secure a commitment from major political parties to renew the Federal Government's critical $1.2 billion Roads to Recovery Program beyond its current expiry date of June 2005. Roads to Recovery is an outstanding example of an effective Commonwealth/local government partnership. It is producing very real and tangible results for Australian communities. It is replacing dangerous bridges and upgrading intersections. It is repairing roads and improving traffic flows. It is boosting economic development, creating employment and improving the lives of countless Australians through 10,000 projects from our city centres to remote communities. But the program will come to an end in 2005 unless renewed by the Commonwealth.

The recent evaluation of the Roads to Recovery program makes it clear that the program is both effective and much needed. The funding is provided directly to local government to assist with the enormous maintenance and rehabilitation backlog faced by councils. Yet we all know that councils' ability to raise its own revenue is severely limited. And, as much of the 680,000 kms of roads owned and maintained by local government - some 85% of all Australian roads - are in need of major maintenance, continued Commonwealth support is critical.

The program evaluation shows that the job is far from finished. Significantly, it found that Roads to Recovery funding needs to be doubled if we are to even just maintain our road asset at its current level. Local government will be lobbying the major political parties hard, to secure commitments to renew the program in advance of the next Federal election.

This Renew Roads To Recovery section of the ALGA website provides councils and other intersted parties with a range of important information, including: reports; key speeches and presentations; facts and figures; examples of R2R projects; suggested campaign activities and; links to other relevant sites and information sources.

Most importantly, we need all Federal MPs and Senators to recognise the importance of the Roads to Recovery program to the communities in their own electorates. Please let your local Federal politicians know how important this program is. Local government fought hard to secure Roads to Recovery. We must now fight hard to keep it.

I urge all communties to join the campaign to Renew Roads to Recovery!

Cr Mike Montgomery
ALGA President

Other Links:

Australian Local Govenment Association

Below are a list of links to photos and information on the Roads to Recovery program in Northern Territory commmunities.