The newly-formed organisation Rural Roads Alliance is calling on the Federal Government to inject sick rural roads with a $5.5 billion emergency funding package in the lead up to the Federal budget. 

The Alliance – which represents diverse stakeholders from across regional Australia – has been formed in response to the critical challenges facing Australia’s rural road network in the wake of recent flooding and high rainfall.

The Alliance includes GrainGrowers, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA). 

In its submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network, the group says “Natural disasters and extreme weather events have already cost the Australian economy $5 billion in 2022 as a result of widespread supply chain disruption to key industries such as agriculture”. 

“This proposed funding package is an opportunity for the Federal Government to stem the rapid deterioration of Australia’s rural road network, and to reduce the cost to the budget of future climate events." 

The $5.5 billion funding package it recommends includes:

• A one-off injection of $1 billion over four years directed at regional road and infrastructure reconstruction for councils impacted by flooding and other natural disasters to ensure the rebuild is to a standard more resilient to future disaster events;  

• $800 million a year over four years for the Roads to Recovery Program; and  

• Targeted funding through the Roads of Strategic Importance program to improve the long-term climate resilience of freight networks.   

Their call comes as the Government commits to a review of infrastructure spending – a process the Alliance says “it hopes will not lessen rural road funding.” 

Appearing before the House of Representatives Standing Committee on 2 May, NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar warned “Severely damaged roads are dramatically increasing the time and cost of moving freight to and from our rural production centres. 

“It’s holding back development of our regional communities and undermining safety and welfare for all users of country roads,” Mr Mahar said.

GrainGrowers Chair Rhys Turton said the $5.5 billion funding would be a smart investment in the future of our regions. 

“This funding package is an opportunity for the Federal Government to stem the rapid deterioration of Australia’s rural road network, and to reduce the cost to the budget of future climate events.” 

In a separate submission Grain Growers Limited wrote “Many rural local councils were already struggling to maintain their large road networks and the recent floods and high rainfall have only exacerbated the funding deficit. Several local councils have said they will have to close flood-impacted local roads as they cannot afford to repair them”. 

Executive Director of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association, Mathew Munro, spoke to the impact on his members. 

“It’s harder on our vehicles, it’s harder on our drivers, and it’s harder on our livestock. At the end of the day it’s a basic safety issue that needs to be addressed,” Mr Munro said.