– Sealing works have begun on Laura Racecourse to Little Laura project on the PDR
– Project will improve the road surface and provide additional overtaking opportunities as part of the $260.5 million Cape York Region Package
Sealing works have started on the Laura Racecourse to Little Laura project on the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) as part of the landmark $260.5 million Cape York Region Package.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the 8.7 kilometre sealing project was another step towards delivering safer and more reliable road access to Cape York for locals, freight transport operators and tourists.
“This next stage of sealing works adds to the work already done as part of the Cape York Region Package. More than 130 kilometres of the PDR has already been sealed, vastly improving safety and accessibility and opening up new opportunities for the entire region,” Mr Chester said.
Queensland Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports Mark Bailey said the project would connect the existing bitumen section between Lakeland and Laura, and the sealing last year between Little Laura and Fairview.
“Once completed, this project will provide motorists with 80.9 kilometres of uninterrupted bitumen on the southern section of the Peninsula Developmental Road. An average of 29 direct jobs will be supported over the life of the Laura Racecourse to Little Laura project,” Mr Bailey said.
Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said the project had created a range of employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people ? a key focus of the Cape York Region Package.
“As of 30 November 2016, 77 Indigenous people, including 31 trainees were employed on the sealing and gravel production projects on the Peninsula Developmental Road,” Mr Entsch said.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Phil Cassell, Managing Director at Eco Civil Solutions (Qld), and Allan Dale, Chairperson of Regional Development Australia Far North Queensland & Torres Strait, for driving efforts to ensure that priority goes to local contractors for local works. This is a great outcome for the local community and Far North Queensland.”
Construction on the $13.4 million Laura Racecourse to Little Laura project is due to start this week, and is scheduled for completion by late 2017, weather permitting.
The Australian Government is providing $208.4 million to the $260.5 million Cape York Region Package, with the remaining $52.1 million coming from the Queensland Government.
