Funding under the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program will substantially improve 97 dangerous crash sites on New South Wales roads from 2021 to 2023.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the state would receive $34.4 million under the Black Spot Program’s 2021–22 funding round, with councils and the New South Wales Government contributing a further $2.5 million to the successful projects.
“This major investment is part of our Government’s commitment to building safer roads right across the nation,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to securing our recovery and keeping our communities safe.
“The Black Spot Program funds safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at locations where a number of serious crashes are known to have occurred.
“That is why the Liberal and Nationals Government has committed a record $1.1 billion to the Black Spot Program from 2013–14 to 2023–24 to improve road safety across the nation.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the 97 Black Spot projects across New South Wales would make an important contribution towards reducing serious injuries and deaths on New South Wales roads and built on previous investments in the state.
“This Government is investing in road safety right across the nation to ensure Australians get home sooner and safer,” Mr Buchholz said.
“This new funding will see total investment through the Black Spot Program in NSW rise to $292.2 million, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving road safety.”
Chair of the NSW Black Spot Consultative Panel Dr David Gillespie said this investment in Black Spot projects would deliver safer roads in local government areas throughout the state.
“The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics has found that Black Spot projects reduce the number of crashes causing death and injury by 30 per cent on average,” Dr Gillespie said.
“The high-priority locations we are funding have seen a total of 15 fatal and 584 crashes causing injuries recorded over the past five years.
“The panel that reviews priorities for the program includes representatives from the NRMA, NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, NSW Police, Traffic Management Association of Australia and state and local government.”
For more information on the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, visit investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots.