The Australian Local Government Association has called for the adoption of its freight productivity plan, which the association says would add $1.07 billion to GDP, create 2000 new jobs during three years and potentially add millions to national productivity beyond the first three years.
ALGA’s Local Government Higher Productivity Investment Plan is designed to help support local government assess key local road assets on designated freight routes, as well as address pinch points to improve vital infrastructure that limits capacity on designated freight routes.
The plan requires a Commonwealth investment of $200 million per year for five year.
ALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard says local governments across the nation can clearly see the need for better freight access.
"Local roads play a key role in addressing the issue of first and last mile access and improving access and connectivity between businesses and local, regional, state, national and international services and markets," he says.
"An improvement in the condition and grade of local road 'pinch points' would see a boost in transport productivity and a national transport network that is fit for purpose and capable of supporting growth and national productivity."
Pickard says while programs such as Roads to Recovery go a long way to helping with the basic maintenance of local roads, more needs to be done to ensure the local road network has the capacity required to provide safe access for all major classes of heavy vehicles and improve heavy vehicle freight movement.
"The initial five-year funding will help the Government get more out of the potential of local roads, which are a critical part of Australia's transport infrastructure and make an important contribution to productivity improvements across the nation," Pickard says.
"We cannot talk 'productivity' and sidestep the issue of first and last mile access which is an important factor in the productivity equation. Additional investment in local roads must be part of the solution to increasing transport productivity on the nation's transport network."