Overview
The State Government is continuing to invest in significant transport initiatives, including metropolitan and regional roads, bridges and public transport.
Over the next four years, the Budget commits $8.9 million towards delivering safe and connected path infrastructure and crossings around schools via the Road Trauma Trust Account. This includes $771,000 during 2026-27 and will support enhanced safety at school sites.
The Budget includes $127.4 million in joint State and Commonwealth funding, to be spent across 2026-27 to 2029-30, to replace up to 21 timber bridges across 11 regional road corridors, including $9.4 million for priority works to replace two regional road bridges over drainage assets in the South West.
Regional access via affordable flights continues to be an important issue for Local Governments. This Budget provides a significant increase in funding, with $100 million to be spent through the Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme over the forward estimates.
The Government remains committed to funding the Regional Road Safety Program (Local Roads) to implement safety treatments such as shoulder sealing, installation of edge lines (including audible lines), wide centreline treatments, and hazard removal.
Funds provided under the State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement continue to grow in line with the increase in Motor Vehicle Licensing fees, resulting in an additional $18.8 million (6.2%) in the 2026-27 Budget.
WALGA Comment
The State Budget continues investment in key road safety priorities and local road infrastructure, while addressing significant cost challenges to regional airfares.
WALGA supports the commitment to improve the pedestrian environments around schools, which addresses a significant gap in the network for active transport users and is a critical step in reversing the negative trend in children walking, wheeling, and riding to school. Much of this infrastructure will be on the Local Government road network and will require Local Government involvement.
WALGA welcomes the commitment to significantly increase the funding toward the Regional Airfare Zone Cap. This is critical to ensure the economic viability of regional Local Governments with airports and provide essential access for regional residents to metropolitan services at affordable rates.
