Lands Minister Ben Wyatt today announced that the McGowan Government had brought key agencies around the table to take action to improve a section of Roebourne-Wittenoom Road.
Responding to both local government and community concerns about the condition of the road, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is working with the Shire of Ashburton, Main Roads Western Australia and WorkSafe to progress the project.
The McGowan Government will contribute more than half of the estimated $850,000 project cost for the much-needed grading and improvement works. The Shire of Ashburton has committed up to $350,000 towards the repairs.
The project is complex due to asbestos contamination along the road - the result of historical transportation of the substance between Wittenoom and Point Samson.
This section of the Roebourne-Wittenoom Road will connect with the upcoming upgrade of Karratha-Tom Price Road, which gets underway this year.
Stages 3 and 4 of the Karratha-Tom Price Road are a McGowan Government election commitment that will create a further 155 kilometres of fully sealed road through the rugged Pilbara terrain.
When complete, the road will provide a fit-for-purpose, viable alternative for vehicles during the wet season, when other local arterial roads are closed for safety.
As stated by Lands Minister Ben Wyatt:
"The McGowan Government has taken a leadership role in responding to this community safety matter and is working closely with key agencies to ensure the works are completed in a safe and timely way.
"A co-ordinated approach was needed to avoid any further delays in undertaking this important piece of work.
"Complex problems require creative solutions, so in bringing everyone around the table we have been able to establish what needs to happen, who needs to be involved and how some of the impediments could be addressed.
"The significant McGowan Government contribution - upwards of $500,000 - together with local government funding, and combined knowledge and experience, equals a good outcome for the community, for business who rely on that route, and for all road users."
As stated by Acting Transport Minister Francis Logan:
"The McGowan Government has a clear focus on improving roads throughout the Pilbara and wider north-west.
"This road, frequented by pastoralists, tourists and remote communities, ties into the southern end of Stage 3 of the Karratha-Tom Price Road, which is scheduled to start in late September.
"As with all road projects throughout the Pilbara and Kimberley, Main Roads has a key focus on providing ongoing local employment and training opportunities.
"We look forward to getting on with more improvements with this road project and others in the Pilbara very soon."
