Opening of Warralakin-Bullfinch Road

13/12/96

Transport Minister Eric Charlton today opened the Warralakin-Bullfinch Road.

The project involved the reconstruction and sealing of 49 kms of road over a three-year period at a total cost of $3.7 million.

The project was undertaken using the pooled resources of the three local shires. A management committee, made up of the shire chief executive officers with Main Roads assistance, was set up to co-ordinate the project.

Work began in August last year at Bullfinch and 20.5 kms were completed to primerseal stage by the end of the year. The second stage - primersealing the remaining 27.5 kms - was started in August this year and were completed earlier this month.

The final seal will be applied to the primerseal next summer under the 1997-98 program with sealing beginning in February, 1998 at a cost of $800,000.

Mr Charlton congratulated the shires of Mukinbudin, Westonia and Yilgarn, which had presented him with a joint proposal to seal the road in October, 1994.

"This is an excellent example of what can be achieved with co-operation between shires jointly using their personnel and equipment," he said.

"I would like to see this happening more across rural Western Australia.

"The sealing of the road will greatly facilitate the cartage of grain from farms to the receival bins in Bullfinch and Warralakin and provide improved and safer travel for the local community of this area.

"This road is also a significant link between the mining areas of the Murchison and Yilgarn. Tourism in the area will also be boosted by the improved road conditions."

Media contact: Sally Squires (09) 321 7333