Black Top reaches Youanmi Road

3/3/00
Transport Minister Murray Criddle today officially opened the new 51.1km section of the Mt Magnet-Sandstone Road extending the "black top" east from the Mount Magnet townsite to Youanmi Road.
The $12.1 million project is the third stage of the 308km re-construction and sealing of the Magnet-Sandstone-Agnew-Leinster Road program that will ultimately link Geraldton and the coastal region with the mineral-rich provinces of the East Murchison and northern goldfields.
"The completion of the Youanmi section is a major step forward for the Murchison and Mid-West region and creates opportunities for minerals exploration, tourism and pastoral development," Mr Criddle said.
"The Mt Magnet-Sandstone-Leinster project is one of the biggest regional road projects in Western Australia and I believe that, when completed, it will have a profound beneficial impact on the area.
"Former State and Federal Governments failed to tackle the obvious need to build high-quality transport infrastructure in this region and I'm pleased to remind people that we are now delivering the goods," he said.
The newly completed project included realigning and sealing the old gravel road, reducing its overall length by about 3.5kms, and sealing a 3.2km section of Youanmi Road south of its intersection with the Mt Magnet-Sandstone Road.
"This road will be a boost for mining and minerals exploration, as well as attracting tourism to the region with its obvious economic benefits," he said.
"The Youanmi section also provides vital access for the new vanadium mine and processing plant at Windimurra, commissioned in late 1999."
Mr Criddle said the new sealed section would help overcome the significant road maintenance and transport costs traditionally associated with gravel roads, and formed part of the State Government's commitment to enhance transport infrastructure through the TransformWA program.
"TransformWA will contribute around $95 million to the development of the Mt Magnet-Sandstone-Agnew-Leinster Road,"
he said.
"The Government is committed to a high-quality sealed transport connection between Geraldton and the Goldfields Highway at Leinster. The exisiting sealed road between Geraldton and Mt Magnet is also being upgraded with passing lanes and other safety improvements.
"Continuing a sealed road east of Mt Magnet will open up new opportunities for industry in the region, including the option of trading through the Port of Geraldton.
"The completion of the Youanmi section is an example of the State Government's commitment to provide a quality transport network in regional areas to enhance productivity and improve the State's competitiveness," he said.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham 9321 7333