Construction has begun on the next stage of the $352 million Rookwood Weir Project as workers begin to upgrade the Capricorn Highway intersection at Gogango.
The Rookwood Weir is being built on the Fitzroy River, more than 66 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton. Construction of the weir aims to make thousands of megalitres of water available for agricultural development, along with supporting the supply of industrial and urban water in central Queensland (CQ).
The project is expected to create up to 100 jobs.
Queensland Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham said the benefits of Rookwood Weir will extend well beyond the jobs.
“It will provide opportunities for increased agricultural and industrial development, and jobs, as well as water security for the region,” he said.
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The Gogango project will see the road upgraded to provide safe access for large, earth-moving machinery and other construction vehicles heading to the site.
Construction works on culverts, floodways and cattle crossings are two thirds complete, with final road widening works underway at the nearby Thirsty Creek Road. The overall project is now almost 30 per cent complete and is expected to be completed in June 2020.
Local businesses have been urged to register their interest to supply goods and services on the project’s dedicated web registry, with around 136 Central Queensland firms having already signed up.
The successful tender for the main weir package will be announced in mid-2020, while the contract to upgrade Riverslea Bridge will be awarded in April.
Assistant Education Minister and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said locals could expect ongoing jobs to flow, with a multi-million-dollar bridge contract to be awarded next month.
“Rookwood Weir is delivering for CQ already with jobs for locals, and tangible progress on site,” she said.