A civil engineering contractor has been awarded the contract to seal another section of the Cape York Peninsula Development Road (PDR) in Queensland between the Little Laura and Fairview.
Weipa-based NQ Civil Engineering Contracting won the contract to seal 4.6km of the Peninsula Development Road.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the contract is a continuation of the PDR project which is designed to improve the ability of locals, freight transport operators and tourists to access Cape York.
“Sealing works like these will literally pave the way for better regional economic outcomes in Cape York, well into the future,” Mr Chester said.
Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said since the rollout of the Cape York Region Package in 2014, 78.5km of bitumen have been added to the PDR.
“Another 51kmis yet to be sealed in 2016,” Mr Bailey said.
“This means improved safety and travelling conditions for road users.”
Federal Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch said, “This is the fourth sealing project to be awarded on the PDR this year through the Cape York Region Package and it is fantastic to see another business based on the Cape be appointed as the principle contractor.
“This is great news for the Cape York community.”
Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Curtis Pitt said the PDR sealing projects provide welcome employment opportunities across the remote region.
“These projects have been an enormously successful employer in some of the most remote and disadvantaged regions of Cape York,” Mr Pitt said.
“Regional businesses have had subcontracting opportunities and the on-the-job-training across a range of skills and positions has been invaluable for the local indigenous and non-indigenous workers who’ve gained employment.
“An average of 180 direct jobs will be supported over the life of the four projects awarded this year.”
The $260.5 million Cape York Region Package is jointly funded with the Australian Government providing $208.4 million and the Queensland Government providing $52.1 million.
