Macedon Ranges council will receive $588,716 to fund road maintenance across the shire.
The grant comes from the federal government’s Roads to Recovery program, which is distributed in a fixed four-year block ending in 2023-24.
Macedon Ranges council assets and operations director Shane Walden said the money will go directly toward critical infrastructure works.
“This funding will be used across the shire for improving access for heavy vehicles, improving the safety of road users, pedestrians and cyclists, and improving roads that are in poor condition,” Mr Walden said.
Council’s thoroughfares have benefited from the federal funding in the past, with works on Beauchamp Street and Kyneton Metcalfe Road in Kyneton and Schaw Street in Woodend coming from the 2020-21 allocation of the Roads to Recovery program.
Mr Walden said this year’s money will focus on the suburbs of Kyneton and Gisborne.
Lauriston Reservoir Road, Kyneton-Springhill Road and Edgecombe Street in Kyneton will all have improvement works carried out, while Mount Gisborne Road in Gisborne will also be addressed.
According to the Australian Road Safety Foundation released earlier this month, two in three road deaths happen in regional areas.
Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie said the funding will contribute to improving safety conditions across the country.
“This Roads to Recovery funding will allow Macedon Ranges Shire Council to progress work, using local
knowledge to deliver the best roads,” Ms McKenzie said.
“This forms part of our government’s unwavering commitment to get Australians home sooner and safer, no matter where they live.”
State government road rehabilitation works are also expected on Melbourne-Lancefield Road in Clarkefield and Bolinda later this month.
A further 30 resurfacing works will be carried out across the Calder Highway, Kilmore-Lancefield Road, Lancefield-Tooboorac Road, Lancefield-Woodend Road and Mount Macedon Road.
