Safety innovation fund opens as Qld ROSI allocation brought forward
The federal government has launched round one of its $12 million Road Safety Innovation Fund (RSIF) and is also fast-tracking Queensland projects under the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative.
The RSIF program provides grants for road safety research and technology development and is now open to any organisations with an interest in such outcomes.
Potential projects can include innovation in road safety management initiatives, new technologies and delivery techniques or research that better informs policy development and outcomes.
“The Australian Government takes road safety seriously, because one death or one crash on our roads is one too many,” Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack says.
“Innovation is key to supporting the Safe System approach to improving road safety and making safety front of mind for all road users.
“The fund will target innovating projects addressing priority areas including improving road safety in regional and remote areas, reducing driver distraction and drug driving and supporting better safety outcomes for vulnerable road users.
“I look forward to announcing successful initiatives to be funded under Round 1 of the Road Safety Innovation Fund in the coming months and seeing critical safety-improving projects get under way soon after.”
The first round of the Road Safety Innovation Fund has $2 million available to fund projects across the country over the next four years.
“This fund is just one of the many ways the Australian Government is investing in road safety to move towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads,” Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz says.
“Other initiatives include the $4 million Road Safety Awareness and Enablers Fund, which is helping deliver targeted educational campaigns to reduce risky behaviour and increase road safety awareness, install life-saving speed signage and collaborate with the community on decreasing road trauma.”
The first round of applications close 18 May 2020 and will be assessed through an open competitive process. Further information is available at www.grants.gov.au.
How Scott Buchholz backed the latest heavy vehicle safety video series, here
It comes as the federal and Queensland governments link on 22 jointly-funded regional roads projects worth $185 million as part of ROSI.
Works to seal roads, build overtaking lanes, upgrade intersections and improve safety will start “sooner” on corridors identified under the initiative.
Key regional routes targeted for works include the Flinders Highway, Kennedy Developmental Road (Hann Highway), Carnarvon Highway, Dawson Highway and Dawson Developmental Road (Springsure – Tambo), Gulf Developmental Road, Gregory Highway and Gregory Developmental Road, Balonne Highway, Gore Highway, Proserpine – Shute Harbour Road and the local government-controlled Floraville Road in Burke Shire.
“As the effects of Covid-19 ripple through our economy, it is vital all levels of Government work together to support jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger and safer regional communities,” McCormack says.
Queensland transport and main roads Minister Mark Bailey says the Queensland Government had identified projects which could start in the coming 12 months, while further consultation continued to develop 10-year ROSI corridor investment strategies.
“It’s also good news for the freight industry which relies heavily on key inland corridors because it means earlier investment will make these roads safer and more flood resilient – sooner.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the state will talk with “local councils through the Regional Roads and Transport Groups and other key industry stakeholders who use those corridors to identify projects that can be prioritised within the remaining ROSI corridor allocations”.
ALC
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) sees the move as helping to “enhance the resilience of vital supply chains”.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the need for reliable and resilient supply chains into very sharp focus for many Australians,” ALC CEO Kirk Coningham says.
“Infrastructure that allows freight to get where it needs to go efficiently and safely will be critical in helping Australian communities and our economy recover from the effects of the pandemic.”
“Ensuring that key regional freight corridors are serviced by reliable infrastructure, including bridges and safe intersections, is vital to support the transportation of export freight – and we know that Australian exporters will play a central role in supporting our post-Covid economic recovery.”
“Both the Federal and Queensland governments should be congratulated on the cooperative way they have worked to secure this agreement and ensure that upgrades to infrastructure on key inland freight corridors can commence more quickly.”
“Completing these upgrades will help freight and logistics operators move essential goods more efficiently, protect the safety off all road users and help Australian exporters in their continued efforts to take high-quality products to world markets.”
“ALC hopes this collaborative approach can be replicated across other jurisdictions, to support Australia’s post-Covid economic recovery.”