Tooraweenah Road Upgrade

Background

In May 2019, the then Liberal and Nationals’ Government committed to fund an upgrade to the Tooraweenah Road east of Coonamble, with $22.962 million from the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative. In February 2022, following the preparation of the Final Delivery Road Project Proposal Report (RPPR), the funding was confirmed by the then Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, the Hon. Barnaby Joyce. 

Coonamble Shire Council has been progressing towards “shovel readiness” for the project, with physical construction works planned for the beginning of 2023.

Tooraweenah Road is the most direct route from Coonamble to the Warrumbungles. The section of road under consideration starts at the end of King Street, Coonamble, on the eastern side of town and continues to the boundary with Gilgandra Shire Council. The road crosses a flood plain, black soil plains with expansive soils and poor foundation. The construction of the existing road is not suitable for the heavy vehicles that currently use it.

The 56.8 km of road is currently made up of 30km of sealed road of varying width, followed by 27km of unsealed road, with an average width of 7m. The unsealed section includes two short sealed sections that total 1.3km.

Most of the sealed length is in need of rehabilitation or heavy patching, however, some of the sections of sealed pavement are in a serviceable condition and will be kept. Unsealed sections of Tooraweenah Road will be upgraded and sealed. The project aims to provide 56.8km of road with a 9.9m-wide pavement and a 7.5m-wide seal, with guide posts, centreline and edge marking.

The benefits of the project will include:

• Improved travel times
• Lower vehicle operating costs
• Enhanced tourist use of the Tooraweenah Road. The unsealed section is a deterrent to non-locals.
• Increased productivity for business – in particular the existing and proposed quarries on Tooraweenah Road
• Improved road safety

The project is fully funded by the Federal Government through the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) Program.

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