Local roads grants
In 2011-12, the Victorian Grants Commission (VGC) has allocated a total of $136.366 million in Local Roads Grants.
The grants methodology for local roads is based on road lengths and traffic volumes in each municipality. It takes account of local characteristics using cost modifiers for freight, climate, materials, sub-grade conditions and strategic routes.
The local roads grant allocation model draws on each council's road length (for all surface types) and traffic volumes, using average annual preservation costs for given traffic volume ranges. The methodology also includes a series of cost modifiers for freight loading, climate, materials, sub-grade conditions and strategic routes and takes account of the deck area of bridges on local roads.
This formula is designed to reflect the relative needs of Victorian councils in relation to local roads funding in accordance with the national principle relating to the allocation of local roads funding.
Cost Modifiers
Five cost modifiers – freight loading, climate, materials, sub-grades and strategic routes – are used in the local roads model to take account of local conditions. The current information sheets (May 2006) for each of the cost modifiers, as well as a Local Roads Grants Model are available below. The Commission is currently undertaking a review of the cost modifiers. It is expected that this process will provide new data to be utilised for the 2011/12 allocation process.
The Commission periodically revises the data on which the local roads allocations are abed. In line with this policy, the following data was incorporated into the 2009-10 allocations: