Federal Budget 2022: Great Southern Secondary Freight Network gets multimillion-dollar boost

The Federal Government has allocated $6.4 million towards road improvements in the Great Southern in its pre-election budget.

In a joint funding arrangement between Federal and State governments, $8m has been allocated to the Great Southern Secondary Freight Network project, which will deliver improvements to non-primary transportation routes across the region.

Some of the changes set to be made include the widening of road lanes, the sealing of road shoulders, better line markings and new signage.

The Federal Government allocated the $6.4m as part of the 2022-23 Federal Budget handed down on March 29, with an addition $1.6m in funding from the State Government.

O’Connor MHR Rick Wilson said the project would help agriculture and other industries get their goods and services to market.

“This funding will create jobs, boost business investment and drive the region’s economic recovery from the COVID pandemic,” he said.

The earlier-than-usual budget announcement was a result of the timing of this year’s Federal election, which must be held by May 21.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to announce the election date in coming days, which by law needs to be called by April 18.