Local groups are being encouraged to put forward their ideas for programs designed to improve road safety in their own community with Round Six of the NSW Government’s Community Road Safety Grants program open today.
Minister for Roads and Transport Andrew Constance said the aim of the Community Road Safety Grants program is to bring people with a passion and commitment for road safety together and support their ideas to lower the NSW road toll.
“We all have a part to play in helping to bring down the road toll and community groups are in a great position to connect with local people about local road safety issues,” Mr Constance said.
“Some brilliant initiatives have already been born out of this program, including a state-wide initiative to discourage young surfers from texting and driving led by Surfing NSW.
“The Clontarf Foundation runs a program to help teenage Aboriginal men in NSW grow into safe and confident drivers, while Jubilee Community Services in Mortdale ran workshops on pedestrian and driver safety, and basic first aid.”
Minister for Regional Roads and Transport Paul Toole said two categories of grants are available: one for smaller projects with up to $5,000 available for each idea and another for more substantial projects, worth up to $30,000.
“This is about delivering programs that save lives. Preliminary figures from 2019 show that 352 people lost their lives on our roads and more than 10,000 people were seriously injured,” Mr Toole said.
“These are not just numbers. They are members of a community – mums, dads, sisters, brothers, friends, someone’s loved one. We want to do all we possibly can to lower the road toll around the state so that no one has to go through the pain of losing someone they love.
“Almost 170 projects have been delivered across the state thanks to the Community Road Safety Grants Program, including 30 projects in the last financial year.”
Applications for round six are now open with community groups invited to submit ideas for local road safety projects by August 31st.
More information about the program and how to submit an application can be found at: http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/aboutthecentre/communitygrants/