Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I rise to speak on some of the fantastic infrastructure projects that the Morrison-McCormack government are delivering in my electorate of Mallee. Our government understands that world-class infrastructure is vital to the strength and future prosperity of regional Australia. We believe that our regional communities deserve the best roads, the best community infrastructure and the best telecommunications possible. The 2021 budget is building on our government's track record of delivering infrastructure projects right across the country. This year's budget is delivering another $1 billion to the highly successful Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, taking this program to $2.5 billion—money that is investing and valuing our local regional communities.

The LRCI Program was a lifeline to Mallee councils during the year of COVID, when economic stimulus was desperately needed. Councils in Mallee have now received almost $73 million in the last year. Mallee councils have already put their money to good use and have delivered some outstanding projects across the communities. Swan Hill council has built new women's change rooms at the netball courts in Robinvale, where there were none, making weekend sport better and certainly more enjoyable for everyone in the community. Horsham council have used some of their money to upgrade community halls. The hall in Mitre has received an upgrade to their kitchen facilities. Taylors Lakes Hall, which is a focal point of the small community of St Helens Plains, has been fitted with a new roof to improve safety. Mildura council has spent another $2 million in cleaning up vital roads in the Millewa that were impacted by sand drift, allowing farmers and community members to travel safely. These are just some of the great projects that have been delivered thanks to this government's LRCI Program, with many, many more on the way in Mallee.

But the LRCI Program is not the only highly successful infrastructure program that our government is delivering—far from it. There is also the hugely popular Building Better Regions Fund. The 2021 budget has committed a further $250 million for a sixth round of the fund, which is $50 million more than the previous rounds. In May, it was my pleasure to take the Acting Prime Minister on a tour of Mallee, where he saw some fantastic projects that have been delivered by the BBRF. The Acting Prime Minister saw the massive roof that has been built over the Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange, a $3.7 million project that was delivered with $1.5 million from the BBRF. He also came to Mildura and toured the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct, which received $17.5 million from the BBRF. This transformational sports precinct is truly a world-class project. In fact, the Acting Prime Minister said that it was one of the best sporting complexes he has seen in the entire country. This precinct will attract events and athletes from all over Australia, and will be a community hub for the fast-growing city of Mildura.

It's clear that our government is committed to delivering outstanding infrastructure right across the country. We also have a key focus on safety, particularly for our road users. The Calder Highway is a vital corridor for all road users in Mallee. The 2021 budget has delivered an additional $15 million for the Calder Highway, bringing our total commitment to $75 million for this vital road corridor. Road users in northern Mallee are thrilled with the new overtaking lanes that have been completed between Mildura and Ouyen, increasing safety for travellers on this road and getting families home safer and sooner. We will see further safety upgrades up and down the highway, including at the Baileys Road intersection near Sea Lake.

Whether it is road safety upgrades or investment into much needed community infrastructure, our government is delivering infrastructure programs for regional Australians. These investments are also vitally important to our nation's recovery. Can the Acting Prime Minister please outline what further benefit is coming from the LRCI Program for regional Australia?

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