A re-elected Coalition Government will deliver $10 million for five key development roads in the North West, Nationals Senate Leader, Ron Boswell, announced today in Townsville with Nationals candidate for Kennedy, Cr Ed Morrison. The announcement is part of the Coalition’s 2020 Plan for Australia’s Transport Future, an integrated plan targeting local roads and national highways. Senator Boswell acknowledged the role Cr Morrison had played in securing the funding commitment to deliver the roads the people and industries of Kennedy needed for the future. “The $10 million announced today will fund five priority upgrades; • $2 million for the Greenvale road between Charters Towers and the Lynd, also known as the Gregory Development Road, which will deliver passing lanes and shoulder widening; • $3 million to continue the upgrade of the Hann Highway, building on the $3.85 million the Hann Highway received from the Federal Coalition Government earlier this year; • $2 million for the Richmond to Croydon road which will allow the construction of four passing lanes as well as commence the sealing from the Croydon section back to Richmond; • $2 million for the Burketown to Gregory road which will extend sealing of this road, building on the 30km that has already been sealed;  and • $1 million to upgrade the Richmond to Winton road.” Senator Boswell said the $10 million announced today will be allocated from the new $300 million Development Road funding program, a program that will fix ageing and deteriorating roads across Australia. “These roads are major routes for local residents, tourists and industry groups such as the mining, horticultural and pastoral sectors, and it is critical that they are brought up to a standard suitable for the volumes of traffic they take each day.” Cr Morrison welcomed the commitment of funding which he had pursued strongly with the federal Transport Minister on behalf of northwest communities. “This significant investment to upgrade key local roads will benefit the regional mining and agricultural industries in particular, providing increased all weather access and reduced transport costs,” Cr Morrison said. “Local road users will also benefit from safer and more reliable roads.” Cr Morrison said that despite record GST and mining royalties, the State Labor Government continued to neglect its responsibility on road maintenance, leaving it to the federal Coalition to step in to ensure the infrastructure needs of the northwest were addressed.   Senator Boswell said: “The Coalition’s road plan invests in a strategic and targeted manner in order to ensure a safe and efficient transport network for all users - moving families from home to work and goods from producers to consumers.” “These roads are vital for the continued development and viability of regional Australia.” ENDS Media Contact - Leah Nicoll 0407 132 284