AfPA welcomes 2022 Budget, calls attention to declining road conditions

Peak industry body Australian Asphalt Pavement Association has named Carlos Rial as its new CEO this week. — Carlos Rial, CEO of AfPA.

The Australian Flexible Pavement Association has welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s 2022-23 national budget including the significant growth of the $120 billion 10‑year infrastructure investment pipeline which will place key focus on critical infrastructure and rural development projects.

AfPA commends the Commonwealth’s recognition of the role roads play in the success of the nation’s economy through this funding package.

The infrastructure focus will see the delivery of several large-scale new development projects across all states and territories, crucially, the budget is enabling significantly more investment including $880 million for Roads of Strategic Importance.

Whilst AfPA has praised the focus on road infrastructure and acknowledge this capital investment, an urgent funding commitment is required to address the funding shortfall in road maintenance, improvements and upgrades, to ensure the upkeep of essential roads and community infrastructure which has long been advocated for by AfPA.

This year’s budget saw the allocation of an extra $17.9 billion to priority rail and road projects across Australia and whilst AfPA has commended the support, the association says maintenance of our existing road network deserved specific attention.

“It is overwhelming to see that the Commonwealth Government has heard our industry’s calls for road infrastructure investment as a critical means of saving lives, creating jobs and boosting the economy,” Carlos Rial, CEO of AfPA said.

“We are pleased to see that the government shares our view that recent natural disasters and indeed the pandemic have highlighted how crucial the roadways that connect us are.

“AfPA continues to reinforce the need to address the challenge of the nation’s declining road condition through the Federal Government supporting increased maintenance funding in partnership with States and Local Government that also support sustainability and the circular economy.

“As a national peak body AfPA will be looking to work closely with all levels of government as the detail continues to be rolled out around the funding and delivery of projects in each state and territory particularly those targeted at improving and maintaining our existing road networks.”