The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport has tabled the report for its inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network.

Media release issue date: Friday, 15 December 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport has today tabled the report for its inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network. Chair of the Committee, Mr Luke Gosling OAM, MP, said ‘the severe weather events over the past few years have taken a tremendous toll on our road network and our nation. The unprecedented scale and intensity of floods, torrential downpours, and bushfires have caused catastrophic damage to our road infrastructure, exposing its vulnerability against severe weather events and a changing climate.’ ‘Our communities and supply chain networks are heavily reliant upon a safe and functional road network to ensure connectivity and access to health and other essential services, food, fuel, and other resources. We have reached the crossroads of changing climate risks, socio-economic growth, and long-term resilience.’ The 26 recommendations made by the Committee complement the Australian Government’s announcement to double the Roads to Recovery Program funding over the next four years and aim to build nationally resilient road infrastructure including: collaboration across all levels of government to develop road asset infrastructure resilience guidelines, planning and investment frameworks, and address existing road asset data gaps engagement across all levels of government, the scientific community, and industry to revise national road design and construction standards and incorporate innovative and recycled road materials and technologies a review of local government funding allocation to support asset maintenance works under the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Investment Program consider the distribution of local government Financial Assistance Grant program road component funding an assessment of betterment access and claims approvals under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, and embedding resilience design and construction procurement requirements under the new Federation Funding Agreements on transport infrastructure. Further information in relation to the inquiry and a full list of its recommendations is available from the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Luke Gosling OAM, MP Luke.Gosling.MP@aph.gov.au 08 8928 0180 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2232 rdit.reps@aph.gov.au

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport is commencing public hearings for the inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 16 February 2023

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport is commencing public hearings for the inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network. Exploring planning, engineering, and construction standards to strengthen road resiliency across Australia will be the focus of the opening public hearing today (16 February 2023) with Austroads, the member association of Australian and New Zealand transport agencies. Chair of the Committee, Mr Luke Gosling OAM, MP, said ‘the hearing is an opportunity to hear from Austroads about the effects of climate change and natural disasters on the national road network, and the role of the Austroads Guides in promoting a national approach to best practice road design to enhance infrastructure resiliency and support our communities and industries.’ The Committee intends to hold further public hearings and interested parties are encouraged to make a written submission to this inquiry relating to any or all of the inquiry terms of reference by 28 February 2023. Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions and hearing transcripts, will be available on the inquiry web page. Media inquiries Mr Luke Gosling OAM, MP Luke.Gosling.MP@aph.gov.au 08 8928 0180 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2232 rdit.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website: www.aph.gov.au/rdit. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and obtain details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the right-hand column of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport has launched an inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 1 December 2022

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport has today launched an inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network. Chair of the Committee, Mr Luke Gosling OAM, MP, said ‘the inquiry will look at road engineering and construction standards to strengthen road resiliency against natural disasters, including the critical role of climate change trends and data to inform infrastructure standards. ‘The Committee is concerned about the increasing deterioration of the nation’s road network, particularly in regional, rural, and remote areas. The extreme flooding events and other natural disasters across the nation have impacted many Australians, and the Committee is seeking to understand how road planning and construction may be improved to enhance road climate resiliency and support our communities.’ The Committee is seeking written submissions, ideally of no more than ten pages, from organisations and individuals providing recommendations relating to any or all of the inquiry terms of reference by 28 February 2023. Further information about the inquiry, including published submissions and hearing transcripts, will be available on the inquiry web page. Media inquiries Mr Luke Gosling OAM, MP Luke.Gosling.MP@aph.gov.au 08 8928 0180 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2232 rdit.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website: www.aph.gov.au/rdit. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and obtain details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track this Committee’ button in the right-hand column of the page.