Member for Cootamundra Steph Cook says better visibility is a safety win for all road users, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Photo: weareadventurers.
Road conditions for motorists travelling at night are set to improve in the Cootamundra electorate through state government funding.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cook announced more than $370,000 across local government areas of the electorate as part of the NSW Government’s Traffic Route Lighting Subsidy Scheme.
Through the scheme councils are eligible to apply for a subsidy for providing a higher level of lighting than might normally be provided on certain major routes, with the aim of decreasing nighttime road crashes.
The scheme will cover capital costs for new and improved lighting, maintenance work and energy consumption costs across the region.
The councils that will benefit from the scheme include: Bland Shire Council, Coolamon Shire Council, Cootamundra- Gundagai Regional Council, Cowra Shire Council, Hilltops Council, Junee Shire Council, Narrandera Shire Council, Temora Shire Council and Weddin Shire Council.
Ms Cooke said that under the traffic lighting subsidy scheme the councils are being compensated for operational costs associated with eligible street lighting, which will help reduce the number of night-time accidents.
“Better visibility is a safety win for all road users, including motorists, cyclists and
pedestrians,” Ms Cooke said.
The following funding has been secured under the latest round of the program:
- Bland Shire Council $32,000
- Coolamon Shire Council $18,000
- Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council $42,000
- Cowra Shire Council $66,000
- Hilltops Council $91,000
- Junee Shire Council $19,000
- Narrandera Shire Council $33,000
- Temora Shire Council $41,000
- Weddin Shire Council $35,000
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the Government was investing record funding in road safety to ensure people reach their destination safely when driving on regional roads.
“One death on our country roads is one too many and it takes a suite of measures to save as many lives as possible, like improving our roadside infrastructure,” Mr Farraway said.
“We have invested $640 million into the Saving Lives on Country Roads program, targeting locations in regional areas where chances of an accident are greater.
“We’re also installing 2700 kilometres of rumble strips – the equivalent of driving from Sydney to Adelaide and back again – along regional highways to combat driver fatigue.”
Councils can receive a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of the Australian Energy Regulator’s approved pricing to assist in rolling out a better level of lighting than otherwise provided on state, regional and designated roads.
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