A new bridge, 11.6 kilometres of dirt road eliminated and significant time and efficiency savings are all part of the Southern Cadia Access Road $10.5 million project that has been earmarked for development over the next three years.
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Blayney Council has secured $5,147 million in funding from the latest round of Resources for Regions, a program established by the NSW government to support regional communities impacted by mining activities, to build the road.
Co-funded by the NSW Government, Blayney Shire Council and Cadia Valley Operations, the project will transform the link between the Mid Western Highway at Carcoar to Orange along the Errowanbang, Cadia and Panuara roads.
Council will be sealing the 11.6 kilometres of dirt road to a width of nine metres, with the final 3.4 kilometres to be reconstructed to the same width.
Blayney mayor Scott Ferguson said that the Dirt Hole Creek Bridge will be replaced well before the end of the year.
“This project will commence at the end of January with the Dirt Hole Creek Bridge scheduled for replacement by September, and the remainder of the project to be delivered over the next 3 years,” he said.
Member for Bathurst, Paul Toole, said that the Southern Cadia Access Road was recommended by Infrastructure NSW and an independent review of 67 expressions of interest.
“This project has been selected for funding because it demonstrates value for money and will make a significant contribution to economic and social growth in our community,” he said.
Cadia general manager Peter Sharpe said the road would benefit more than just the mine.
“The improvements to the roads will increase the safety of our workforce when travelling to and from work from the south and south east,” he said.
“The enhancements will also see significant safety improvements for local residents who travel this road each day and will improve connections from local rural holdings to CTLX and create more business opportunities for those in the Blayney shire.