$7.3 million in funding is up for grabs through the Morrison Liberal National Government’s Driver Reviver initiative for those looking to establish or upgrade their life-saving road-side rest sites.

Grants of up to $150,000 per site available to develop rest facilities and improve driver safety on our roads.

Anyone who’s taken a long trip up the Bruce or even interstate knows just how quickly fatigue can creep up on you and how life-saving it can be to take a well deserve break, perhaps even switch drivers.

That’s the sort of road safety behaviour Driver Reviver sites promote, by providing drivers with an opportunity to rest and replenish in a safe area and maybe enjoy a coffee and some fresh air.

It would be great to see more Driver Reviver sites developed between Mackay and Townsville.

Rest sites are critical for our region as we share our highway with truckies, tourists, commuters, caravaners and cane haulers.

You need to be alert at all times, even if that means adding half an hour’s rest onto your journey, because that half-hour can be the difference between life and death.

The Morrison Liberal National Government is proud to invest in the essential work of the Driver Reviver program and I strongly encourage all potential site owners throughout the region to submit their applications for funding as soon as possible.

Driver Reviver is a community program that has been operating in Australia for 30 years now, managed by volunteers from a wide range of organisations and community groups who give their own time to promote road safety and help reduce the road toll by providing travellers with free beverages, snacks and conversation.

Round 2 of the Driver Reviver Site Upgrade Program is a targeted competitive grant round with applications closing 23 February 2021.

Further information, including application guidelines and submissions, is available at www.grants.gov.au.

For more information on the Australian Government’s road safety initiatives, visit www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au.