$1 million to maintain roads in Paroo Shire

A new road maintenance contract in the Paroo Shire region will improve driver safety and road conditions on 633km of the state-controlled road network.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt today announced the $1 million 12-month contract had been awarded to Paroo Shire Council.

Mr Pitt said funding under the contract would go towards routine maintenance works such as repairing potholes and road surfaces, along with grading unsealed roads.

"The money is vital to the ongoing reliability and safety of these roads in rural and regional Queensland," he said.

"Building and maintaining roads in rural and remote conditions can present particular challenges, particularly after rain or during droughts.

"The funding provided in this contract will help address these challenges and essentially prolong the life of the roads by reducing deterioration."

Mr Pitt said Main Roads had established an employment commitment with local governments, which helped retain locally based roadwork crews in the shires.

"It makes sense to give these maintenance contracts to the shires, as they have locally based people, equipment and materials available to them.

"Having local staff with the skills, expertise and knowledge to maintain these roads in their own area also helps keep these skills in the local community, as well as providing the best value for the department's funding.

"Local people working on local roads are a key factor in our success in keeping the road network maintained within the budget available.”

Main Roads Regional Director Peter Evans will be meeting with the Paroo Shire Council on Friday (15 August), to discuss the ongoing management of some of the more lowly trafficked state-controlled roads in the shire.

Under the maintenance contract, Main Roads has allocated funding to the following state-controlled roads in Paroo Shire:

• Mitchell Highway – Barringun to Cunnamulla
• Mitchell Highway – Cunnamulla to north of Wyandra
• Bulloo Developmental Road – Cunnamulla to west of Eulo
• Balonne Highway – Cunnamulla to east of Bollon
• Eulo – Hungerford Road
• Charleville – Bollon Road

Maintenance contracts are awarded to local councils, as appropriate, to carry out routine maintenance works on state-controlled roads throughout Queensland.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819