WIMMERA councils have shared in $12.6 million from the State Government to boost road links between farms and markets.
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Premier John Brumby announced Local Roads to Market Program details on Wednesday.
Horsham and Ararat rural city councils, Buloke, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack shires all received money in the program.
Hindmarsh Shire chief executive Dean Miller said Hindmarsh received $435,000 which would go towards two projects.
"There will be an upgrade to Belcher Street, Nhill, to enable B-doubles to access the Western Highway on the Nhill Netherby Road," he said.
"The other project is a bridge upgrade on the Rainbow Rises Road, west of Rainbow, again to enable B-doubles.
"We are very happy for what we have received. We put in two applications and were successful with both so that is an excellent outcome for the shire. It's a great funding program that supports further development of the agricultural industry."
Horsham Rural City Council's technical services manager David Eltringham said the $436,000 the council received would be spent in conjunction with Yarriambiack Shire's $479,000.
"Our funds will go to widening and reconstructing the Dimboola Minyip Five Chain Road in the areas that are joint boundaries between Horsham and Yarriambiack municipalities," Mr Eltringham said.
"This project has been requested by users and stakeholders for many years so we are very happy to finally get this funding.
"It is a major east-west link road, so to get the joint-funding agreement is a real boost to road safety in that area."
Mr Brumby said the program aimed to secure the future for Victorian agricultural industries.
"Our government is taking action to generate a prosperous future for our regional food industries, because we understand how important jobs and investment are to the liveability of our regions," Mr Brumby said.
"Local Roads to Market funding goes to regional and rural councils for projects that better link farms with processing centres and markets such as in the dairy, timber, grain, fruit and processed foods sectors, and I am delighted to announce this third round of funding.
"It is about improving the efficiency and competitiveness of agricultural and horticultural producers and related industries by strategically upgrading local roads for large vehicle access."
TO see the funding at a glance, see Friday's Mail-Times.
