Several councils across the Parkes electorate will benefit from a multi-million federal government program designed to improve local roads and infrastructure.

Another round of funding for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program was announced as part of the Federal Budget last week, with $42 million of a new $1 billion injection being allocated to Parkes.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the LRCI program had already spread almost $40 million across the 18 councils in Parkes through phases 1 and 2 of the program.

“A third phase of the LRCI program is a fantastic Budget injection for our hard-working local councils and means they will be able to continue planning and delivering priority local road and infrastructure projects such as upgrades to bike paths, community halls, playgrounds, parks and sports facilities, as well as improved accessibility to public facilities,” Minister Coulton said. 

“Providing more time for planning and construction will enable local governments to consider a broader range of priority projects and potentially undertake larger, more complex developments to deliver even great benefits for their communities."

According to Minister Coulton, the LRCI program had been highly successful in the past based on feedback from local mayors across the electorate.

Coonamble Shire Mayor Ahmad Karanouh said the council had really appreciated the funding boost through the program a couple of years ago and this new announcement had been well-timed.

"It was only a few days ago that council had its own budget meeting and all the councillors were talking about the local roads connected to farm lands," Mayor Karanouh said.

"Normally we just don’t have the money - only about $400,000 a year - to fix local roads. We had $600,000 this year plus flood money, but this will go much further now."

According to Minister Coulton's announcement, the Coonamble Shire Council will receive $1,859,636 as part of this new round of funding.

Mayor Karanouh said, because it was unspecified how the money could be split between roads and infrastructure projects, this could result in another $800,000-900,000 allocated for roads alone.

"Right now, we're waiting on the finer details of when we'll be able to access it - we will also get information on how we can allocate it," he said.

"We will really be able to spend some money between now and early next year - they're talking about January for starting infrastructure projects but for roads, I imagine it will be different."

When asked about which infrastructure projects in the Coonamble Shire might benefit from the federal funding, Mayor Karanouh said the first thing that came to mind was council's main street beautification and bore baths projects but he was also looking forward to hearing other ideas from the community.

Other councils that will receive payments from phase three of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program include the Walgett Shire Council with $2,471,230, Narromine Shire Council with $1,819,380, Warren Shire Council with $1,310,516 and Warrumbungle Shire Council with $3,106,732.

According to Minister Coulton, local councils will also benefit from around a 50 per cent prepayment of funding from the 2021-22 Financial Assistance Grant and an extension of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

“This cash injection will give councils vital support to assist with the combined impacts of drought, bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

“It’s also fantastic to see a record $250 million is being invested in the popular Building Better Regions Fund, which has already supported projects such as the $6.8 million oval redevelopment in Cobar and $1.47 million for a community hub in Gilgandra.”