AUGUST 23, 2016: Mackay Regional Council has just received $678,000 to assist with local road construction and maintenance under the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery Programme.Councils use Roads to Recovery funding to upgrade roads chosen by council, ensuring that local knowledge selects the best local road projects.Councils across the country have so far used Roads to Recovery funding to repair and upgrade more than 53,500 road sites.Mackay Regional Council Infrastructure and Services portfolio chair Karen May said Roads to Recovery funding had been put towards the cost of completing a number of important road upgrades around the region.“Some of the projects include the upgrade of the intersection on Juliet Street, South Mackay, lane widening at Malcomson Street, Mount Pleasant, and constructing a new intersection and access road to Mackay Football Park on Heaths Road, Glenella,” Ms May said.“Council is committed to improving the condition of the region’s roads and funding provided through the Roads to Recovery program is vital in delivering this service.”Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the 2016 Budget extended the Roads to Recovery Programme, and provided an additional $50 million per annum from 2019-20 onwards, bringing the annual commitment to $400 million.“This is the Australian Government making good on election promises by continuing to support programmes that deliver funding exactly where it’s needed based on local knowledge,” Mr Chester said.“The Australian Government will distribute $3.2 billion to councils nationwide between 2014–15 and 2018–19 under the Roads to Recovery Programme to support maintenance of the nation’s local road network and improve road safety.“Local Government Areas nationwide will receive a share of over $100 million in Australian Government funding, including $678,000 in Mackay.”[box style="1 or 2"]Through the Roads to Recovery Programme, the Australian Government supports councils with the ongoing maintenance of Australia’s local road infrastructure, facilitating greater access and improved safety, economic and social outcomes.More information on the programme is available online at www.infrastructure.gov.au.[/box]