Stanage Bay Road Project Drives into Final Stage of Construction

The final stage of work is underway on the significant project of sealing 39.7 kilometres of Stanage Bay Road.

The $21.6m project, fully funded through the Australian Government's Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative, involves upgrading unsealed sections of Stanage Bay Road to sealed road standards between the Bruce Highway and the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area Access gate.

The final stage of the project, Stage 1, has commenced and is due to be completed by the end of May, weather permitting. Meanwhile, Stage 4 is almost finished and Stages 2 and 3 are complete, including floodways, minor erosion damage correction, bitumen resurfacing, culvert extensions and land tilting.

Mayor Andy Ireland said the completion of this project will improve productivity, resilience, and safety for the region.

“The upgraded road will also support efficient heavy vehicle movements and improved connectivity, benefiting primary producers, the Stanage Bay Township, Emergency Services, and the Australian Defence Forces," Mayor Ireland said.

"Shoalwater Bay Training Area, where Stanage Bay Road leads, is undergoing a $2 billion expansion as part of its long-standing relationship with the Singapore Armed Forces. As a result, it is arguably the best and most versatile large-scale military training area in the world.

"The project’s completion will facilitate major national and joint international defence training exercises and provide a nationally recognised ‘fit-for-purpose’ road corridor that can accommodate the increasing number of military and local heavy transport vehicles.”

Councillor Glenda Mather, Portfolio Holder of Transport (Roads, Drainage, Pathways), said the completion of the works is eagerly anticipated.

"It's fantastic to see the works taking shape, and the progression of these works is a testament to both the Stanage community and the wider Livingstone Shire,” Cr Mather said.

“Given the amount of upgrade needed in so many areas to improve the drainage overall, it’s been a battle to fit these additional costs into the $21.6M allocated by the Federal Government to do the job.

“Adding this to the rising costs of material including but not limited to cement, bitumen to and their availability, meant the pressure was on to complete the job on budget, and on time.

Wadallah Creek crossing is the last of the major projects in the scope of works, and this crossing is critical to link the Stanage community with the Bruce Highway.”

At Council’s Ordinary Meeting on the 17th of April, Council voted to include a capital works project in the 2024/25 Budget to construct a raised, box culvert crossing at Wadallah Creek on Stanage Bay Road to reduce the risk of isolation of the Stanage Bay Community during periods of flooding.

As a part of the motion, council officers will prepare a report to Council within six months, outlining the necessary planning (including timing) and costings to enable the project to proceed.

To stay up to date on all Livingstone Shire Council’s major projects, visit livingstone.qld.gov.au/council-projects