Michael Sukkar MP

Federal Member for Deakin
Shadow Minister for Social Services
Shadow Minister for the NDIS
Shadow Minister for Housing
Shadow Minister for Homelessness
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Changes to Black Spot Programme for Safer Deakin Roads



The Coalition Government is delivering on its plans to build safer roads through a record $500 million investment in an improved Black Spot Programme.

Federal Member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar, remains firmly committed to improving the safety of local roads, writing this week to advise the Maroondah and Whitehorse City Councils that eligibility criteria for the Programme had been broadened.

Mr Sukkar said he strongly encouraged both councils in Deakin to apply for funding under the Programme.

“I am determined to continue to deliver genuine road safety solutions for our community,” he said.

Changes to the eligibility criteria include:

  • Reducing the minimum required benefit cost ratio for projects from 2:1 to 1:1; and
  • Reducing the crash history requirement from three to two casualty crashes in five years.

Mr Sukkar said another important amendment to the criteria allowed more funding to be spent on fixing known black spots before they take lives and cause serious injuries.

“Under the new criteria, Consultative Panels will able to allocate up to 40% of funding to sites on the basis of a road safety audit. This change will allow for the proactive treatment of unsafe roads,” he said.

“I encourage everyone in Deakin, particularly local councils, to complete the online nomination form and tell the Victorian Consultative Panel about our local black spots.”

The Government has previously committed funding to upgrade the intersections of Bedford Road and Great Ryrie Street in Ringwood  and Surrey and Junction Roads in Blackburn North.

The Government’s record $500 million investment in the Black Spot Programme will help save lives, boost productivity and create new local jobs throughout Australia.

For more information on the Black Spot Programme and to access the nomination form, visit investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots/