A $17.4 million funding allocation by the Australian Government will go towards improving 31 known crash sites under the 2024–25 Black Spot Program.
The Black Spot Program funds a range of safety measures at locations where serious crashes have occurred, or are at risk of occurring.
These include improved lighting and line marking, installing traffic lights or roundabouts, and measures to protect vulnerable road users.
These 31 Black Spot projects will make an important contribution towards reducing serious injuries and deaths on Queensland local roads, and build on previous investments across the state.
For the 12 months to April there have been 296 fatalities recorded on Queensland roads.
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown stated that every death on Queensland’s roads is a tragedy that could have been avoided.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we all have our part to play to keep each other safe,” she said.
“With the recent announcement of our increased commitment to this long-running program, I strongly encourage individuals, organisations, and local governments to nominate sites in their local communities for consideration in the next round of funding.”
Funding increased substantially for the Black Spot Program at this year’s Budget, progressively rising from $110 million to $150 million per year, along with a funding boost for other local road infrastructure programs.
The Government is also providing $21.2 million over six years from 2024-25 in what it said will harmonise and improve the reporting of national road safety data via the National Road Safety Data Hub.
Black Spot Consultative Panels provide the opportunity for stakeholders to have a say in the project selection process, and ensure that nominations of the highest priority and importance to the local community are recommended for approval.
The Queensland review panel includes representatives from a broad range of organisations representing road users, local and state government, law enforcement, engineers, and traffic management and road safety experts.
Federal Member for Rankin and Treasurer, Jim Chalmers said the Budget and the Government’s economic plan is about taking care of Queenslanders with cost of living relief for every household and big investments in local infrastructure.
“Labor’s big investment in local roads will help people get home sooner and safer,” said Chalmers.
“From Logan to the Lockyer Valley, Mackay to Moreton, Toowoomba, Townsville, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, the Cassowary Coast and the Fraser Coast – we’re fixing up roads right across the state to make motorists safer.”
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