Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor and Local State MP and Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson were at Burrangong Creek Bridge and Milvale Road at Young today to announce almost $3 million in joint funding for road and bridge building.

For Milvale Road, the NSW Government will contribute $1.112 million under the Fixing Country Roads programme and the Federal Government will contribute $801,000 under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity programme.

For Burrangong Creek Bridge on the Bribbaree Road north of Young, the NSW Government will contribute $535,000 under the Fixing Country Roads programme and the Federal Government will also contribute $535,000 under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity programme.

Katrina said the $42.85 million Fixing Country Roads funding initiative was to help regional councils upgrade their old roads and bridges which cause freight pinch point or ‘last mile’ problems.

“There’s nothing worse for a local economy than roads and bridges not being up to the task of carrying freight in an efficient and cost effective manner,” she said.

Katrina said she was proud of the hard work carried out by Young Shire Council to secure funding for both projects.

“The Milvale Road upgrade will generate improved travel times and positive economic benefits for over 100,000 heavy vehicle movements per annum. Work on the Burrangong Creek Bridge will remove B-double restrictions on Bribbaree Road and the associated 20km detour.”

Mr Taylor said he was delighted to see this sort of funding flowing into regional communities.

“Hume has done particularly well in securing funding from Federal bridge and road building programmes. Supporting infrastructure in communities like Young is a big focus for the Federal Government. Huge investments into new road, rail and air transport infrastructure will deliver lasting benefits for local economies and the nation,” he said.

Katrina said Council would also be contributing substantially towards the upgrading of Milvale Road.

“With funding now available from both the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, work on these vital local infrastructure projects can start this year.”