Job focus for road project

A large focus will be put on indigenous and small business employment during the Marble Bar Road realignment, according to Main Roads WA.

In a presentation made to Shire of East Pilbara councillors, the Government agency broke down what would go into the $43.58 million project.

Project director Chris Raykos said as with most road improvement projects, the goal was to improve road safety, but increasing opportunities for local Aboriginal people was a major point.

“We’ve changed the delivery of the contract for this project to strengthen opportunities for Aboriginal Australians and local businesses to provide incentives for contractors as well,” he said.

“During the project, what we want to do is engage and assist with helping local Aboriginals and local Aboriginal businesses to work on this project.

“We want to skill them up and provide them with that opportunity to carry those skills on after the project is finished. Built into our project is buy local content, so there’s an incentive for our contractors to reflect that aim.”

The 4km section of road that passes through Coongan Gorge will be the only area of Marble Bar Road to receive the funding from the State and Federal Governments, and all unallocated funds will be returned.

Main Roads WA is also putting forward a business case to extend the funding to the Marble Bar intersection in an effort to reduce road collisions and increase the lighting of the area. The contract for the works is expected to be awarded in May, with a predicted completion date of late 2019.