General News
17 September, 2025
Major works to upgrade rural road
A MAJOR upgrade of Leadingham Creek Road is well underway, with Mareeba Shire Council approving two tenders worth $1.23 million to fund the material needed for the road base.
The project involves widening and sealing 9.8km of Leadingham Creek Road to a consistent two-lane, 7 metre-wide roadway with shoulders on either side of the roadway (excluding the single culvert at Twelve Mile Creek).
It will also replace the minor culvert at Sandy Creek, with site preparation works begun including the establishment of a side track in preparation for the culvert extension.
Last week, the council approved two tenders to CQB Services Pty Ltd for the supply and delivery of 30,000 tonnes of road base required for use in the pavement layer.
Leadingham Creek Road serves a vital role in supporting regionally significant activities, including heavy agriculture, sugarcane haulage, and tourism, and also provides access to the Dimbulah Aerodrome.
The road is in need of an upgrade to address several safety concerns, including tight horizontal curves, steep vertical alignments, restricted driver sightlines, and a narrow carriageway.
Additionally, the high volume of heavy commercial and private traffic has contributed to the deterioration of the road’s condition, resulting in steep edge drop-offs, uneven shoulders, and damaged sealed edges that compromise the integrity of the pavement.
Council was successful in securing up to 80% in Australian Government funding through the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program for the road upgrade, with a 10% contribution from the State Government under the TIDS program, and the remainder being funded by council.
