Farmers in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley can look forward to a smoother journey from their farm gate to market thanks to a $20 million Andrews Labor Government investment.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing welcomed the funding which is being delivered through the AgriLinks Upgrade Program to improve Victorian’s vital network of local roads, including $1.174 million for road upgrades in West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley.

The funding will be used to undertake important local road infrastructure upgrades that will increase agriculture productivity and reduce travel times, better connecting country roads to major transport routes and connecting people in rural, regional and peri-urban areas to local markets and jobs.

Baw Baw Shire Council and Latrobe City Council were among 38 rural, regional and peri-urban councils across the state to receive AgriLinks funding.

Baw Baw Shire Council has been awarded $824,000 for the reconstruction of Jacksons Track Road while Latrobe City Council has received $350,000 for Stage 3 of the Flynns Creek Road Shoulder Widening Project.

The program complements funding provided through the previous Local Roads to Market Program, which supported 78 local projects along Victoria’s rural and regional agricultural freight routes, delivering productivity and safety improvements for farmers and businesses.

The AgriLinks Upgrade Program is part of the Labor government’s $2.7 billion Building Works package that is getting thousands of Victorians back to work on crucial infrastructure projects around Victoria.

AgriLinks is also another demonstration of the Government’s commitment to deliver on its new Agriculture Strategy. The Agrilinks program is helping to build a Victorian agriculture sector that is strong, innovative and sustainable for many years to come, by supporting producers to be more profitable and ensuring products can be delivered to markets more often.

A full list of councils awarded funding through the AgriLinks Upgrade Program can be found at: agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-and-resources/

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“Time is money, and primary producers, processors and other agri-food supply chain businesses all benefit from being better connected to markets and communities with reduced travel times.”

“Improvements to roads and infrastructure all help to grow businesses in this sector and will work alongside other investments such as the Latrobe Valley Food Manufacturing Precinct to get more of our world-class products to customers more quickly.”