The Australian Government has announced 376 priority road locations in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia to receive $107.5 million in Black Spot funding.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester recently spoke about the road programme, reporting “the Australian Government is committed to building safer roads across the nation. The Black Spot Programme targets road locations where crashes are occurring, reducing the risk of crashes through funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations."
With construction treatments given to 376 road locations across 150 regions of QLD, NSW and WA, expect to see road plant, like loaders, dozers, graders, scrapers, truck/hiab cranes, hire, articulated dump trucks, tipper trucks, excavators, rollers, bobcats, site amenities, traffic equipment and more.
Image credit: Shoalhaven News
Member for Herbert and Chair of the Queensland Black Spot Consultative Panel, Ewen Jones said the investment in 89 Black Spot projects would deliver safer roads in 25 local government areas throughout Queensland, making an important contribution towards reducing the national road toll.
“Funding has been allocated to road locations that have been identified as high priority, with 9 fatal and 348 injury crashes recorded at these sites,” Mr Jones said.
“The panel which reviews priorities for the programme includes representatives from the RACQ, Queensland Trucking Association, Queensland Emergency Services, Bicycle Queensland, the QUT Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety, Queensland Police and state and local government.”
The three largest funding allocations were given to:
| Project Name | Treatment | Australian Government Funding | Local Government Area |
| Bonogin Road Carington Road to Davenport Drive BONOGIN |
Widen the sealed shoulder, remove hazards, improve warning of sub-standard curves, install Vehicle Activated Signs | $1,990,100 | City of Gold Coast |
| Carnarvon Highway Taroom Road ROMA |
Intersection upgrade from existing narrow Auxiliary Right Turn intersection to a Channelised Right Turn and Auxiliary Left Turn. Installation of guardrails | $1,989,200 | Maranoa Regional Council |
| Drayton Road West Street TOOWOOMBA |
Signalise the intersection | $1,350,000 | Toowoomba Regional Council |
Check out the full 2016-17 list of QLD Black Spot projects here.
Chair of the New South Wales Black Spot Consultative Panel, Calare MP John Cobb said this investment in 216 Black Spot projects across New South Wales would deliver safer roads in 86 local government areas throughout New South Wales.
“Funding has been allocated to road locations that have been identified as high priority, with 34 fatal and 1123 injury crashes recorded at these sites,” Mr Cobb said.
“The panel reviews priorities for the programme, the panel includes representatives from the NRMA, NSW Federation of P&C Associations, the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, NSW Police and state and local government.”
The three largest funding allocations were given to:
| Project Name | Treatment | Australian Government Funding | Local Government Area |
| Hume Highway Conroy Street BOOKHAM |
Change cross intersection into staggered T junctions, left to right configuration | $2,000,000 | Yass Valley Council |
| Ewingsdale Road Sunrise Boulevard BYRON BAY |
Install 1-lane roundabout including all line marking, lighting and signage and RRPMs on centre / edge lines, limit access to roadside development, remove sight distance restrictions at intersection, reduce speed limit by 20 km/h | $1,999,000 | Byron Shire Council |
| Byron Bay Road Ross Lane LENNOX HEAD |
Install 2-lane roundabout (including all traffic calming, line marking, lighting and signage), reduce speed limit by 20 km/h | $1, 958, 350 | Ballina Shire Council |
Check out the full 2016-17 list of NSW Black Spot projects here.
Senator for Western Australia and Chair of the Western Australian Black Spot Consultative Panel, Dean Smith said this investment in Black Spot projects will deliver safer roads in 39 local government areas throughout Western Australia.
“Funding has been allocated to road locations that have been identified as high priority, with 11 fatal and 340 injury crashes recorded at these sites."
“The panel which reviews priorities for the programme includes representatives from the Royal Automobile Club of WA, Western Australian Road Transport Association, Road Safety Commission, Western Australian Local Government Association and Main Roads Western Australia.”
| Project Name | Treatment | Australian Government Funding | Local Government Area |
| Brand Highway Between Wannamal Road West and Red Gully Road BOONANARRING |
Widen and seal shoulders to 1.0m, install audible edge lines and remove hazards from clear zones, including 7 culvert extensions | $1,525,700 | Shire of Gingin |
| South Coast Highway Napier Road DALYUP |
Realign and upgrade intersection, widen approaches, install turning pocket, clear vegetation and install additional signs, lines and pavement markings | $1,450,000 | Shire of Esperance |
| Orrong Road Francisco Street/Francisco Place LATHLAIN |
Remove right turn filter (with double right turn lanes provided for heavier right turn movement to Francisco Street), install mast arms on major road and extend left lane on Orrong Rd | $1,500,000 | Town of Victoria Park |
Check out the full 2016-17 list of WA Black Spot projects here.
The Australian Government has committed $500 million to the Black Spot Programme from 2014–15 to 2018–19, including an additional $200 million over two years from 2015–16 to improve road safety across the nation.
If you're a supplier or subcontractor local to one of the 150 succesful local government councils to have their road applications approved, you'll want to see your business reap the benefits of the construction phase. To point you in the right direction, we've created this free eBook with tips to increase your chances of winning hire work.