Moree's agricultural sector will benefit from a shire-wide gravel re-sheeting to improve rural roads, while a number of the shire's community assets will also get a makeover thanks to a federal government investment.
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A total of $1.8 million is being invested in the Moree Plains Shire Council under the first round of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.
Four local projects have been funded under round one of the program, which includes $987,679 for a shire-wide gravel re-sheeting, $640,959 for painting and improvements to the Moree Civic Precinct, a further $100,000 for painting and improvements to the shire's village halls and $86,250 for bicycle and walking paths in Balo Street and Amaroo Drive.
Moree Plains Shire Council's acting director of engineering services Alan Lawrance said the roads funding will be spent principally on council's arterial and collector road systems where the grain haul, transports and school buses will get most benefit.
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"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," he said.
"Council's gravel re-sheeting program is very important as it allows for transportation of produce off-farm to grain receivals."
The gravel re-sheeting program is being funded with $987,679 under the LRCI, as well as an additional commitment of $350,000 in Roads to Recovery funding, along with council's contribution of $600,000.
Federal Member for Parkes and Minister for Local Government Mark Coulton said it's fantastic to see plans for local roadworks charging ahead using funds under the LRCI program.
"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," he said.
"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."
