Big Investments for The Victorian Government Will Help to Recover From COVID-19 and Bushfires

The Victorian Government has announced a $22.8 million investment, as part of its Building Works package, to support bushfire recovery on arterial roads.

Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Ben Carroll, said the funding would assist Eastern Victoria communities to recover from bushfires and the economic impacts of COVID-19. 

“We’ve made this significant investment so bushfire restoration works can continue on 13 key roads in East Gippsland, allowing communities to recover and the freight and tourism industries to thrive,” Mr. Carroll said.

“These bushfire recovery works will not only make our roads safer but will also help get Victorians back to work.”

Works include repairing and replacing damaged roads, bridges and culverts, signs, barriers, and guideposts, as well as landslide clean-up. 

Significant bushfire recovery works have already been undertaken with all of East Gippsland’s 400km of bushfire impacted arterial roads reopened, more than 700 road signs repaired or replaced and 12,600 guideposts replaced.

Victorian Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Lisa Neville, said:

“We’re helping fire-affected families across East Gippsland get back on their feet – this funding is another way we can keep Victorians in work and get these key roads open.”

This funding forms part of the Victorian Government’s $328.4 million investment in critical transport maintenance, with fast-tracked upgrades set to create or support more than 600 jobs.

All works will be completed within the next six months and will comply with the local jobs first policy, ensuring communities hit hardest by the impacts of the coronavirus will benefit.

The Victorian government is investing more than $1.5 billion in economic stimulus across Victoria as part of its unprecedented economic response to the coronavirus crisis.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Jane Garrett, said:

“I know recovery is a long journey for our communities – but we’re making sure our local roads reopen and are keeping Victorians in work as we do it.”

Source: InfraStructure