New Cerito Road improves access to Bowen Basin

A shorter, sealed route to the Bowen Basin’s Newlands Mine opens to traffic today, improving access and safety.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the $23 million project was an example of how the Queensland Government is providing infrastructure to support the mining industry in the booming Bowen Basin.

"It's also a great example of government and industry partnership – with Xstrata, the owner of Newlands Mine, providing $3.35 million towards the project and the State Government providing $19.65 million,” Mr Pitt said.

Senior representatives of the Department of Main Roads, Bowen Shire Council and Xstrata will open the road to traffic at the northern end this morning, at its intersection with the Bowen Developmental Road, 63km west of Collinsville.

"The 23km sealed, two-lane road was built to improve access between Collinsville and the Newlands Mine," Mr Pitt said.

"Known as Cerito Road, the route extends from the Bowen Developmental Road, 63km west of Collinsville, to the Newlands-Glenden Road.

"Newlands Mine has also funded a $4.4 milion upgrade of the existing sealed Collinsville-Elphinstone Road between the Newlands Mine and Glenden.

"The new, sealed Cerito Road, in conjunction with the sealed Collinsville-Elphinstone Road, will replace the old access road, a 59km stretch of gravel north of Glenden.

"The gravel road was often impassable in bad weather conditions, so it was not a reliable route.

"It will also provide a more direct link between the Mt Coolon area and the Mackay area, boosting tourism access and assist regional development."

Cerito Road was built in two stages, with construction starting in late 2005.

Mr Pitt said the Queensland Government had responded to representations from the Bowen Shire Council to build the new road.

"The council advised that the road would play a vital role in increasing employment opportunities by improving access between Collinsville and the Bowen Basin mines,” Mr Pitt said.

"Main Roads carried out a feasibility study, which showed that changes to industry in the Bowen Shire supported the case for the road's construction to be made a priority.

"Public consultation on the proposal, in 2003, also found strong support for the project."

Mr Pitt said funding would continue to be provided for work on the sealed section of the Bowen Developmental Road, between Bowen and Collinsville.

"Some $6.6 million in state funding is being provided in 2007–08 and 2008–09 to repair and strengthen pavement on the Bowen Developmental Road,” he said.

"Maintenance work continues to be done on the unsealed gravel section further west."

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s office 3227 8819