Vital transport corridor in Cloncurry Shire set for resilient upgrade

• Mount Isa-Duchess Road in Cloncurry Shire to receive an upgrade that will strengthen the road against severe weather.
• Works will deliver improved road conditions for local communities and heavy transport, and help to reduce economic disruptions due to road closures.
• Delivered as part of the jointly funded $450 million Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Program.  

A funding injection from the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments will underpin critical upgrades to a vital transport corridor in Cloncurry Shire. 

Approximately 25 kilometres of the Mount Isa-Duchess Road will be sealed, providing enhanced, long-term flood resilience for residents and businesses in the region.  

Works will also improve all-weather access for mining and pastoral transport, helping to protect the local economy during disaster events and monsoonal periods. 

The funding is part of a record Betterment resilience investment, delivered under the $450 million Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Program (QRRRP), to strengthen the disaster resilience of regional Queensland.   

This project builds on recent QRRRP announcements in North West and South West Queensland, bringing the combined value of these projects to $43.8 million.  

The QRRRP is funded through efficiencies realised under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the project would help communities bounce back faster and protect jobs following disasters. 

“In the immediate recovery phase following any disaster, one of the first priorities after making sure people are safe is to get key transport routes operational as quickly and safely as possible,” Minister McBain said. 

“This project will enable freight operators and farmers to keep moving through these areas for more of the year, reducing economic disruption. 

“The Albanese Government is committed to working with states and territories across the country to support projects like this to reduce risk and build resilience in disaster prone areas like Cloncurry Shire.” 

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the recent severe weather has highlighted the value this project will provide the North West region. 

“Proactive investments like this will deliver positive outcomes in the North West for many disaster seasons to come, strengthening public safety, protecting critical infrastructure and supporting the backbone industries of the region,” Minister Leahy said.  

“By increasing the resilience of Mount Isa-Duchess Road we will greatly reduce transport interruptions for resources and agriculture businesses operating in Cloncurry Shire, Mount Isa, and the surrounding areas. 

“This is another key project from the Crisafulli government to reduce disaster impacts in regional and remote Queensland.”  

Mayor of Cloncurry Shire Council Greg Campbell said this announcement reinforces the importance of the Duchess area to the Cloncurry Shire.

“This is a critical part of the Shire and State for agriculture and mining, and this progressive road sealing project shows that government gets it,” Mayor Campbell said.

“In this project, three levels of government are working together to deliver outcomes for real people, real jobs and real money for the people in regional Queensland.”