A bold plan to bring safety and economic benefits to the Dubbo region where hundreds of thousands of livestock are transported to saleyards each year has been realised with the official opening of the Boothenba Road Intersection.
The upgraded infrastructure is expected to provide truck drivers, livestock carriers, farmers and meat buyers greater efficiency to their movements when accessing the saleyards.
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor, Mathew Dickerson, State Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders, Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, and Senator for New South Wales, Tony Sheldon, gathered on Tuesday 24 January to officially open the project.
Dubbo Regional Council received $6 million from a Regional NSW Infrastructure Grant and $2 million from Round Seven of the Federal Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) for the upgrade.
Works on the key freight route included the realignment and widening of the road, creation of dedicated turning and deceleration lanes, widening of the median islands and new signals at the level crossing intersection at Boothenba Road and the Newell Highway.
Member for Dubbo and Minister for Western NSW, Dugald Saunders, said the upgrade will contribute towards increased freight in the region.
“Hundreds of thousands of sheep and cattle are transported to the saleyards every year, and now it’s easier for heavy vehicles to access the facility with a new, wider road as well as a dedicated turning lane,” he said.
“This upgrade will deliver safer and more efficient trips for all of our farmers, agents, meat buyers and truck drivers accessing the saleyards.”
Senator for NSW, Tony Sheldon, was pleased to open the intersection to the public.
“Truckies do a great job getting local Aussie goods to national and international markets, and supplies to where they are needed – whether supermarket shelves or regional hospitals – and we are backing them through investment in critical road infrastructure.
“This intersection was a well-known concern to locals, so I’m thrilled to be here today to see it is now better and safer thanks to the collaboration of all three levels of government – demonstrating our joint commitment to regional road safety.”