Close to $10 million is being spent on upgrades to outback roads in New South Wales’ far west.
Funded through the Fixing Local Roads Program, upgrades have been underway in the Cobar and Unincorporated areas.
Among the projects completed so far by Cobar Shire Council is the upgrade of Wilga Downs Road which received almost $2.8 million from the NSW Government and almost $250,000 from council.
It included sealing nearly 14 kilometres of the road, and the construction of a causeway and the stabilising of causeways to provide all-weather access on an important route between the Cobar and Bourke Shires.
Cobar Shire Council Mayor Jarrod Marsden said: “We are delighted to have completed the important upgrade to Wilga Downs Road. Prior to the sealing work this route was closed 15 days per year on average due to rain, with washed out shoulders, forcing speed restrictions to be put in place.
“The Shire’s prosperity is built around the mining industry of copper, lead, silver, zinc and gold, as well as pastoral and cropping enterprises. Having access on this road during all-weather events will help provide these industries with safe, reliable transport routes.”
Another completed upgrade in the far west is $2.75 million to improve the Cameron Corner Road, which straddles the border of NSW, Queensland and South Australia.
Transport for NSW delivered the works: realigning two curves, rehabilitating the road, improving drainage, installing gravel overlay and sealing 2km of road.
Crews who delivered the Cameron Corner Road upgrade are now working on two other local road improvements worth around $4.2 million; and aimed at reducing the threat of erosion during storm events and improving wet weather resilience.
Southwest of Broken Hill, off the Silver City Highway, work on Netley Road is scheduled to begin in September 2024 to upgrade causeways by stabilising pavements and extending sealed sections.
At Bootra Road, northeast of Broken Hill near Packsaddle, work starts this month to deliver three kilometres of formation improvements and gravel re-sheeting to help reduce the need for road closures.
Each project is expected to take around three months to complete, weather permitting.
“These four local road projects, totalling around $10 million of NSW Government investment, are critical resilience boosting measures for the road network in the far west,” said Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison.