The $2.1 billion Roads to Recovery scheme is alive and will be letting the funds flow soon.

One of the greatest benefactors to local governments, Roads to Recovery (R2R) avoided going off-road when legislation to continue its money was stuck in difficult negotiations.

Funding is now assured, so over 560 local governments can keep life-saving civil works going and thousands of contractors in work.

The passage of the Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014 came only after compromise was reached between the Abbott government, Labor and the minor parties.

The important funding could easily have been scrapped if not for the vociferous efforts of local government advocates, who created a grass roots campaign and reminded Canberra how much the money was needed.

City or Marion Mayor Felicity-Ann Lewis, also president of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), welcomed the secured R2R funds.

But she has called for some permanence, so that the same hoops do not have to be cleared again too soon.

Cr Lewis said there was no need for the R2R legislation to be tied to Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014 “which originally passed the House of Representatives on 27th March this year”.

ALGA said the argument over some unrelated issues left councils “not knowing if these vital road funds would be forthcoming”.

But the peak body is glad to have pinned-down the “$350 million [that] was committed to R2R per year until 2019 in the May 2014 Budget, with a doubling of funds for 2015-16.”

“But this funding was held hostage while issues completely unrelated to the R2R program were debated,” ALGA said.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) says members are “now able to plan their programs for improved safety and maintenance of the state’s local roadwork following the Senate’s passing of legislation”.

Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss took a customary swing at his Opposition counterparts.

“This funding is expressly for local roads and street work needed in local communities. Councils choose the projects they want in their own areas,” Mr Truss said.

“I thank PUP, Motoring Enthusiast and Family First Senators for their goodwill in working through the issues and clearing the waters left muddied by Labor’s penchant for red tape, unnecessary bureaucracy and sheer bloody-minded obstructionism.”