New funds will make Kimberley roads safer

Transport Minister Troy Buswell has announced more than $91 million of State Government funding will be allocated to upgrade three major Kimberley roads as part of the new Safer Country Roads initiative.

Mr Buswell made a brief stop in Broome last week to announce the Cape Leveque Road, Broome Highway and the Great Northern Highway would receive significant funding injections.

This includes $17 million from the new Safer Country Roads initiative.

Mr Buswell said the upgrades would benefit Broome’s community and tourism.

“The road upgrades will help make roads safer and better for locals and visitors alike,” he said.

“That is a great outcome for tourism but more importantly it’s great for the communities up on the (Dampier) Peninsula … that road is their only point of connection to Broome and the broader world.”

Mr Buswell said about $10 million would be made available to seal another 15km of the Cape Leveque Road south of Beagle Bay.

The remainder of the 90km section would be sealed over the next eight to 10 years.

“What we have been able to achieve is a significant step up across the State in funding for regional roads,” he said.

“The main drive for that has been the extra funding the Government has received, or that Main Roads has to spend on roads, as a result of our decision to link revenue from speed cameras and red light cameras to road safety outcomes.

“Road conditions are a big part of that … unfortunately, about 50 per cent of fatalities happen on country roads and around 50 per cent of that money over a period of time will be spent on country roads.”