The Gwydir Highway is undergoing a $10 million project to improve safety under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Federal Minister for emergency management Jenny McAllister says the Australian and NSW Governments are supporting local communities in their recovery from natural disasters and helping them prepare for future events.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australia’s transport industry.
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly Deals on Wheels magazine.
- Sell your truck with Australia’s #1 truck classifieds
“Together, we’re rebuilding important community infrastructure to a more resilient standard so it can withstand increasingly frequent and intense severe weather events,” she says.
The Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package works will improve slope stability, making the road less vulnerable to slope failures, scour, water inundation and pavement damage on a section of the highway with a long history of landslips.
One kilometre of roadside concrete kerb drain will be installed, and other drainage improvement works carried out to redirect water safely away from unstable areas.
“This is one of the betterment projects to be funded through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package, a program to ‘build back better’ after a natural disaster to make our roads more resilient against future events,” says minister for regional transport, Jenny Aitchison.
“This betterment package means roads and other transport assets will be able to stay open longer during a disaster or open again sooner after the disaster has passed, allowing vital food, medical supplies and other essentials to be moved and hastening recovery for local communities,” she says.
Investment in the betterment of the Gwydir Highway means communities can stay connected, freight routes can continue operating, and emergency services can respond swiftly during increasingly severe weather events.
NSW Labor’s spokesperson Peter Primrose says it’s important to keep communities connected during disaster.
“it’s vital to keep food, medical supplies and other essentials moving,” he says.
“This work will mean this important link between the Tablelands and the coast will be in a better position to keep those people and goods moving.”
“I’m delighted it has received government support.”
The site is approximately 75 kilometres from Glen Innes and 87 kilometres from Grafton.
Read more:
- Cody Jinks song titles decorate Ambrose Haulage’s embassy grey fleet
- Restoring a 1946 Chevy Panel Van to honour family history
- From passenger princess to cattle queen
- Bundaberg Rum Bear features on striking Kenworth T909
- Stop Slow Traffic Control’s colourful fleet add Isuzu Traypacks to the mix
Check out the Deals on Wheels Facebook here.