Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has backed the Minister for Road Safety Liza Harvey’s call to encourage community organisations to apply for grants for grass roots road safety initiatives under the State Government’s 2013/14 Road Safety Community Grants program.

The program provides funds for locally developed and implemented road safety projects.

Mr Blayney said community groups can be awarded grants of up to $1,000 each for anything from community fetes to events promoting bicycle skills.

The program provides funding of $250,000 from the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) for community road safety initiatives.

Mr Blayney said the funding is part of a record $43 million contribution from the RTTA for safe road treatments on regional roads and at dangerous urban intersections, as well as additional funds for extra police operations to reduce risk taking behaviour and funding for community education campaigns.

The Road Safety Community Grants is administered through the Office of Road Safety and provides grants to community organisations, encouraging them to have an active role in raising awareness about road safety and ultimately, reducing road trauma in WA.

“Road safety projects need to foster widespread support, community participation is a vital factor to ensure a successful outcome,” Mrs Harvey said.

The Minister said that grants were available for projects that focus on the Safe System approach to align with Towards Zero the WA Road Safety Strategy 2008-2020.

Applications for the Road Safety Community Grants must be received at least three months prior to the proposed community event.

More details can be obtained at - http://www.ors.wa.gov.au/communitygrants .