Bunbury MLA Don Punch has written to Federal Member for Forrest Nola Marino seeking bipartisan support for a new $900 million funding program that will help save lives on roads in Bunbury.

The proposed Regional Road Safety Program will address the high number of single vehicle road crashes on country roads.

It will deliver safety improvements such as sealed shoulders and audible centre and edge-lines to more than 17,400 kilometres of highways and main roads, in Bunbury and throughout regional WA.

Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti have written to the Prime Minister and Federal Infrastructure Minister seeking a funding partnership that will see the Federal Government contribute $80 million a year, and the State Government $20 million a year over 9 years towards the Program.

The Federal Government has traditionally contributed 80 per cent of the funding for major, regional road projects, such as the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.

The State Government is requesting the same funding arrangement for the Regional Road Safety Package – the next vital road project for regional WA.

Comments attributed to Member for Bunbury Don Punch:

“The Regional Road Safety Package is the next major road project needed in regional WA. I urge Ms Marino to support the Program, which will help save lives on regional roads.

“This funding will go towards addressing the high number of single vehicle road crashes on country roads. If the Federal Government agrees to the funding partnership, the Program could be rolled out immediately, delivering jobs straight away.

“The Federal Government’s share of the Regional Road Safety Program could be more than met if it were to redirect the $1.2 billion it has reserved for Roe 8 and 9; a project that is uneconomic and does nothing to address road safety in Bunbury.

“All levels of government have a responsibility to improve road safety, and this Program provides an opportunity to work together to reduce the number of people killed and injured on local roads.”