Member for Wannon Dan Tehan has called on the Gillard Government to provide a one off Roads and Bridges To Recovery Payment directly to local government to cover the costs of damage to road and bridge infrastructure from the floods.
“After travelling around viewing the destruction to road and bridge infrastructure there is no doubt that local government will need the assistance of the federal government to quickly fix the damage done to roads and bridges from the floods,” said Mr Tehan.
“After talking to all the Mayors in flood affected shires in Wannon, I have written to Prime Minister Gillard asking her to address this vital issue.
“With local government budgets already at breaking point and rate-payers not able to afford another hike in rates, it is beholden on the federal government to assist.
“The devastation to the road and bridge network is having a major impact on our local communities, preventing people from directly accessing their workplace, along with hampering the accessibility of school buses, fire and emergency services, farm and freight transport.
“Many of the bridges in our local commnunities are on secondary freight routes and apart from the movement of freight, they are key economic assets in connecting local communities to the broader road network and getting people to work and school.
“In the letter to Ms Gillard I state, To assist local government areas across Australia, including Wannon, that are already facing pressures in maintaining this road and bridge infrastructure, in my view a one-off Federal Government Roads and Bridges To Recovery Payment directly to local government areas affected by the floods should be a priority to assist councils with the necessary road and bridge infrastructure repairs.
Media Contact: Lisa Downs, 0400 192 205
Copyright © 2010 : Authorised by Dan Tehan, 190 Gray St, Hamilton VIC 3300
Disclaimer | Privacy | Contact
Design by Tin Shed Creations
