ALGA analysis of the 2015-16 Federal Budget

Transport

Key points

There are few new measures with the majority of new funding directed to either expand or extend existing projects or programs.

  • $350 million in additional funding, as a one-off doubling, of Roads to Recovery to be delivered in 2015-16 (announced previously).
  •  $100 million in additional funding for the Black Spots program (announced previously).
  • $45 million over two years for the new Stronger Communities Programme – $150,000 to be allocated to each Federal electorate each year.
  • The National Stronger Regions Fund with $1 billion allocated for priority economic and infrastructure projects to commence from 1 July this year.

Commonwealth funding for Local Roads in 2015-16

In the 2014-15 Budget, the Government announced that due to the creation of the Asset Recycling Program, funding for both the Roads to Recovery and Black Spot Funding Programmes would be increased.

  • Roads to Recovery: $699.6 million (includes a one-off doubling of Roads to Recovery allocations in 2015-16)
  • Identified Local Road Grants: $703.4 million
  • Black Spots: $160 million ($100 million in additional funding in 2015-16)

Total local government road funding allocation for jurisdictions in 2015-16 is set out in the table below based on current allocations ($m).

StateRoads to RecoveryIdentified local roads grants Black SpotsTotal
NSW195.0204.144.5443.6
VIC142.4145.044.8332.2
QLD142.4131.832.5306.7
WA102.4107.617.6227.6
SA63.038.712.8114.5
TAS22.837.34.364.4
ACT11.222.61.635.4
NT20.416.51.638.5
TOTAL 699.6703.4159.71,562.7

Note: sum of the components may not add to the total due to rounding

Bridges Renewal Program

Total funding pool to be allocated to jurisdictions for state and local government projects (note: funding allocations to jurisdictions are yet to be finalised).

Year$m
2015-1660.0
2016-1780.0
2017-1890.0
2018-1970.0

Key funding commitments by jurisdiction

The Federal Government will provide funding for the following projects in the 2015-16 Budget.

NSW

  • $209.7 million of the $2.9 million Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan delivered;
  • Concessional loan of $2 billion provided to NSW Government for the WestConnex Project and $450 million provided for the M5
  • $143 million provided in 2015-16 of the $405 million funding package for NorthConnex

VIC

  • Continuation of the Ballarat to Stawell duplication of the Western Highway – $73.1 million in 2015-16
  • $110.9 million provided in 2015-16 for the St Alban’s Road Rail Level Crossing
  • $20 million for the Traralgon to Sale Duplication of the Princes Highway East.

QLD

  • $500 million for the Bruce Highway upgrade works.
  • $316.7 million for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing
  • $102 million provided out of $518.4 million total funding for the Moreton Bay Rail Link
  • $48 million of the Cape York Region Package allocated in 2015-16.

WA

  • $87.9 million for the Perth Freight Links
  • $139.5 million for the Perth Airport Gateway project
  • $108.4 million allocated to the NorthLink WA works in 2015-16
  • $499 million provided to the Western Australian Government due to GST revenue shortfalls for the provision of road infrastructure projects

SA

  • $162 million provided in 2015 for North-South Corridor projects.
  • $20 million for APY lands infrastructure projects.

TAS

  • $57.1 million for the Midland Highway
  • $16.5 million provided in 2015-16 for Freight Rail Revitalisation
  • One-third of the total $25.6 million in funding for the Brooker Highway

ACT

  • $6.9 million provided in 2015-16 for the Majura Parkway

NT

  • $49.1 million provided from the Regional Roads Productivity Package
  • $22.1 million in 2015-16 for the Tiger Brennan Drive duplication.
  • $35.4 million of the Northern Territory Roads Package.