Funding objectives
The objective of the $25 million Local Roads toMarketProgramistoimprovetheefficiency and competitiveness of the agriculture sector by strategically upgrading local roadsandbridges to enable access by larger and heavier higher productivity trucks and through the sealing of strategic local roads as identifiedby processors or producers to lessen produce damage. Timber harvesting roads areoutside the scope of thisprogram.
Upgrading these key local transport connections means more direct routes to markets and/or higher productivity freight vehicles being accommodated, reducing congestion, transport costs and travelling times as well as improving road safety. The capacity of existing local roads and bridges will be enhanced and result in improved connections for agriculture produce, particularly connections to arterial roads and national highway freight networks.
Funding will be available for rural, regional and interface councils and administrators of unincorporated areas across Victoria tobetter link farmers and industries with processing centres, receival sites, ports andmarkets.
Level of funding support
For road and bridge projects, applicants are expected to make a financial contribution or source third-party funding on a $2:$1 basis for ruralcouncils and unincorporated areas and a $1:$1 basis for regional and interface councils. This funding approach acknowledges the higher dependencyon agricultural production in rural council areas.
For applications which contain a bridge upgrade, fundingwillbeprovidedforbridgespecifictotalcosts up to $600,000 (that is, a grant of up to $300,000 for compliant bridge works). Bridge upgrades can be submitted as part of the local road upgrade or as a stand-aloneproject,providedtheymeettheprogram eligibilitycriteria.
Projects should maximise their funding support from a range of sources including the Federal and local government, private sector and agricultural organisations. These funding sources may be included in the council’s matching funding (such as Bridges Renewal Program, Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and Roads to Recovery Program).
‘In-kind’ contributions are not accepted as part of the funding contribution.
Projects eligible for funding
Local Roads to Market projects may include the following:
•Improving a local road to a standard suitable for larger and heavier vehicles such as B-double and/ or Heavier Mass Limits (HML)movements.
•Improving local road intersections, includingthe intersection of a local road with an arterial road or nationalhighway.
•Upgrading a bridge on a local road to a standard suitable for larger and heavier higherproductivity vehicles where the bridge in its current condition is preventing the use of the road as a strategic freight route for these vehicles (note special budget requirementsapply).
•Sealing of strategic local roads identified by processors or producers to minimisedamage toproduce.
Note that funding for design works and bridge testing is managed through the ‘Designing Local Roads to Market Projects’ application process.
Councils are encouraged to discuss project ideas with DEDJTR staff before preparing applications.
Projects ineligible for funding
The following activities will generally NOT be eligible for funding as they are not value for public money propositions:
•requests for retrospective funding where projects have been completed or have commenced priorto receiving fundingapproval
•routine maintenance andresurfacing
•major arterial (VicRoads)roads
•privateroads
•roads that are not strategic agriculturalroutes
•driveways.
Selection criteria
Applications will be assessed and prioritised by the following criteria:
•consistency with the Local Roads toMarket Program objective and eligibilityprovisions
•level of support from agriculturalproducers, processors and/or industryassociations
•benefits to the agriculture sector,including efficiencyimprovements
•alignment to regional transportplans/strategies
•road safetyimprovements
•project managementcapabilities.
Local roads often form part of a supply chain that extends beyond local government boundaries. For this reason it is critical that councils and industry work together strategically to identify and plan improvements to supply chains. Many councils are already involved in regional transport groups which have come together to identify regional priorities. If your council is involved in one of these groups you are encouraged to work closely with them toidentify local roads that are important foragriculture.
Joint applications
Where a road crosses local government boundaries, councils are encouraged to submit a joint application for that road. In submitting a joint application, one council should be nominated as the lead council.The lead council will be responsible for reporting on the project and coordinating the roll out of the project. The lead council will also enter into the agreement with DEDJTR.
Multiple applications
Councils may submit applications for more than one project.
In the event that more than one project is submitted, council must nominate an order of priority fortheir applications. The order of priority should be supported by relevant local agricultural/horticultural producers and processors and industry groups.
Submission of applications
Application forms and more information about the program can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website or by calling DEDJTR on 136 186.
The first funding round of the Local Roads to Market Program closes on 16 December 2016.