New South Wales is receiving the biggest share of funding in the latest round of Black Spot Program 2021-22, a Federal Government initiative to improve safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at locations where serious crashes are known to have occurred.
As part of the Program, the Federal Government has committed a total of $1.1 billion from 2013–14 financial year to 2023–24 financial year – part of the Local and State Government Road Safety Package.
In the latest round announced today by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce, New South Wales is receiving $34.4 million to improve 97 dangerous crash sites before 2023. The New South Wales Government and councils will contribute a further $2.5 million to the successful projects.
Victoria is the second state benefitting from the program, with $25.8 million allocated by the Federal Government to improve 51 dangerous crash sites on Victorian roads from 2021 to 2023.
Queensland will receive $20.8 million under the Black Spot Program’s 2021–22 funding round to improve 67 dangerous crash sites.
In South Australia, the fund will support 20 black spots with $9.27 million, while Western Australia will see 34 dangerous crash sites improved with $14.74 million funding.
Tasmania is receiving $2.7 million from the program for 13 black spots, with councils contributing a further $336,690 to the successful projects.
Chair of the NSW Black Spot Consultative Panel Dr David Gillespie said the high-priority locations to be funded through the program had seen a total of 15 fatal and 584 crashes causing injuries recorded over the past five years.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said this would raise the total investment through the Black Spot Program in NSW to $292.2 million.
Federal Member for Monash and Chair of the Victorian Black Spot Consultative Panel Russell Broadbent 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,” Mr Broadbent said.
“The high-priority locations we are funding have seen a total of 17 fatal and 281 crashes causing injuries recorded over the past five years,” he added.
Projects nominated for the Black Spot Program are reviewed by a consultative panel, chaired by a Member of Parliament or Senator appointed by the responsible Minister in each state and territory.
This year, the panel that reviews priorities for the program in Victoria included representatives from the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, the Victorian Transport Association, Victoria Police, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Victorian Department of Transport.
In New South Wales, the panel comprised 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.
Related stories:
- Funding to fix 33 black spots in Western Australia
- Federal funding to fix 51 black spots in Queensland
- Increased funding for Canberra black spots to improve safety