Western Australia’s peak local government association has renewed its road funding agreement with the state government, guaranteeing councils 20 per cent of state revenue from vehicle licence fees.

The agreement will provide councils with an estimated $1.38 billion over the next five years, WALGA says.

The State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement (SRFLGA)  was first negotiated in 1995 to provide funds to maintain and improve the Local Government road network.

The new deal was signed during the WALGA Local Government Convention this week.

Under the new agreement, Main Roads and WALGA have agreed to address road safety, increase Aboriginal employment and improve the use of recycled materials in road construction.
 
WALGA President Karen Chappel said the agreement highlighted the importance of the two tiers of government working together.
 
“The agreement is a vital source of funding providing certainty for Local Government and the communities they represent, for the term of the Agreement,” said Cr Chappel.

The local government-managed programs will receive 67 per cent of annual funding in direct grants, road project grants, State Black Spot allocations and remote Aboriginal access roads.

The remaining 33 per cent of funding goes to Main Roads managed programs, which include State initiatives on local roads, bridgeworks and bridge inspections, and traffic management, signs and pavement markings.

 WALGA says the agreement will see nearly $253 million invested in Local Government roads this financial year, representing up to 25 per cent of total investment in local roads.
 
Local government manages 87 per cent of the public road network in WA, amounting to 127,000 kilometres of roads across the state. 

The Agreement is intended to ensure the available funds are allocated across WA, focusing on areas deemed to provide maximum benefit.