Queensland’s Mornington Shire Council is undertaking a road rehabilitation project, giving locals and visitors a much smoother, safer journey.
With an estimated cost of $10.4 million, the road project is addressing the devastating flood damage incurred by Tropical Cyclone Oswald and Tropical Cyclone Fletcher in 2013 and 2014.
Mornington Shire Council CEO Mr Frank Mills said the makeover was approximately 35 percent complete.
“The project is well underway and was undertaken as part of Council’s vested interest in maintaining safe roads for the community.”
The Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the Gulf Regional Aboriginal Corporation are supporting the project.
“The project focuses on delivering a safer road network to Mornington residents and visitors, council’s primary focus.
“The staged works to Birri and Balaleah Road include repair, removal of existing surface and resurfacing due to the natural disasters that affected the area.”
Mr Mills said Council was committed to providing and maintaining the necessary infrastructure to service the needs of the region in an environmentally responsible and cost effective manner.
Council has engaged Koppens Constructions to commence the works.
Koppens Construction Principal Project Manager Mr Callum Koppen said they were pleased to employing local staff for the development.
“The works consists of 50 kilometres of resurfaced and reshaped roads to improve the wear and safety of the existing network.
“Council has a number of key guiding principles we follow when servicing the roads, and we will work to budget while providing genuine value for money for [the Queensland Reconstruction Authority].
“Koppens also minimise the consumption of natural resources in line with council’s sustainability objectives, and are using a stabiliser to limit water usage while conditioning the soil.”
The project will also allow local workers to obtain a Certificate III in Civil Works.
