In good news for those living in the west of the Moree Plains Shire, especially primary producers between Boomi and Mungindi, the last gravel stretch of Caloona Road will now be formed up and bitumen sealed, thanks to a $4.5 million grant from the State Government.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall was out at Weemelah last week to announce the funding for Moree Plains Shire Council to seal the remaining 10 kilometres of gravel.
“This funding will help council plug the long-standing freight chain missing link in the west of the shire, between Carrigan Road and the Carnarvon Highway,” Mr Marshall said.
“The unsealed section of Caloona Road is notorious for failing and being closed during the wet, forcing school busses, trucks and general traffic through Boomi or Mungindi to access Moree and grain consolidation points.
“This problem will soon be no more with a bitumen the whole way after the $15 million project to seal the stretch between Boomi and Mungindi was completed a couple of years ago.
“This will mean primary produce, school buses and all motorists will have an all-weather bitumen road access through to Moree, for the first time.
Moree Shire Mayor Mark Johnson welcomed the funding injection and said that it was much appreciated.
“Once finished, this link help more than $200 million worth of produce each year get off farm and to market quicker and cheaper than ever before, in all weather conditions,” Cr Johnson said.
“Council is also stumping up around $600,000 for this project, along with around $130,000 in contributions from local farmers.
Top image: local farmer Anthony Barlow, left, Moree Plains Shire Councillor Lisa Orchin, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, farmer Jock Hunter and Mayor Mark Johnston.
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