Dear Mrs Irwin

Thank you for your letter dated 25 May 2010 about a petition submitted for the consideration of the Standing Committee on Petitions regarding funding to replace the Jubilee Bridge at Innisfail in Queensland, which is a local government responsibility.

The Australian Government continues to provide funding direct to councils to assist Local Governments with road projects through the Roads to Recovery Program and Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs).

Between 2009-10 and 2013-14, the Government will provide funding of $1.75 billion directly to local councils under the Roads to Recovery Program, with Queensland councils to receive $356 million of this allocation and the Cassowary Coast Regional Council to receive approximately $2,720,355.

The Government provides further support to local councils through FAGs, the local roads component of which totals $589.7 million in 2009-10, with more than $110.7 million of this provided to Queensland, and $2,788,800 to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

This funding is intended to supplement council and state government spending on local road construction and maintenance. Councils can apply the funding from these two streams to road infrastructure projects according to local priorities.

I trust this information is of assistance to the Committee.

from the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Mr Albanese