Road funding has been increased in this year’s Southern Downs Regional Council’s budget for both normal maintenance and capital works.
Total funding for the road maintenance program is $7.08 million, an increase of 12.25 per cent over the last year.
This funding is in addition to flood repairs, which are funded separately by the State and Federal Governments.
Capital works were scaled back last year, but this year have returned to normal levels.
Significant items in the budget include $1 million for placing new gravel surfaces on worn roads. A total of $1.565 million has also been allocated to reseal the bitumen road network.
“Gravel resheeting and bitumen resealing are essential programs, which are required to ensure that the council’s road network does not further deteriorate,” Southern Downs Regional Mayor Peter Blundell said.
“These works represent a major part of the council’s overall road expenditure each year,” he said.
The council has also budgeted to spend $950,000 on roadworks to Cullendore Road this year. More sealing of this vital link will be carried out under this significant project.
This project is jointly funded by Southern Downs Regional Council and the State Government.