Agnew-Sandstone Rd (NE Goldfields) to be upgraded

14/12/95

The Agnew to Sandstone Road will be upgraded to assist the burgeoning mining industry in the North Eastern Goldfields and the movement of freight to and from Geraldton.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton today announced the road link, from Leinster past Agnew to Sandstone over a distance of 157 kilometres would cost $6.7 million.

Mr Charlton made the announcement while opening the Lake Miranda-Mt Keith section of the Kalgoorlie-Meekatharra Road.

He said it would be a quality gravel road that would remain serviceable during normal winter conditions and would assist with mining development taking place north of Leinster.

"It will also improve the link from the Goldfields to the Mid-West, enable Geraldton to better service its hinterland and provide a link from the Goldfields to the Great Northern Highway," the Minister said.

"The road continues on from Sandstone to Mt Magnet on the Great Northern Highway and then further west to Geraldton and in turn, on to the Pilbara.

"The existing road between Leinster and Sandstone is low quality and often impassable to heavy and conventional vehicles in the wet. This major upgrading will change all that and improve safety immensely."

Mr Charlton said Main Roads was about to begin preliminary work, such as investigations to locate materials and road alignment and design.

Main Roads had been asked to identify funding sources.

The Minister said he envisaged that much of the preliminary work and construction would be done by the private sector and be in place by mid-1996, with construction due to start as soon as possible after that time.

If the project were completed in one continuous operation, it would take about eight months to construct.

Media contact: Will Henwood 481 2044