The Western Australia government has provided a boost to road maintenance in the great southern and south west regions of WA, with 100 workers set to join its Main Roads department.
The additional workers to the department are part of an ongoing transition into moving road maintenance functions back within the WA government.
“Creating sustainable regional jobs is part of our plan to create strong regional communities for the future,” WA premier Roger Cook says.
“By bringing road maintenance back into government, we’re delivering quality local jobs with better pay and conditions for workers.
“It also ensures our regional roads are better serviced into the future.”
A total of 39 road maintenance staff will join the department in the great southern, while 61 will be joining in the south west.
Road maintenance in the south west will get a further boost with the establishment of a new Main Roads office in Manjimup, which will accommodate 20 new members and assist with increased road network management responsibilities.
The WA government says that with the additional 100 joining the department, more than 350 have joined Main Roads since the transition began in late 2022. So far, six rural regions plus the Perth metropolitan area have successfully transitioned into the department.
WA’s Main Roads Metropolitan Incident Response services is expected to be the next to come onboard in mid-February, while the final changeover in the Kimberley region is expected to take place in November 2024.
“It’s very rewarding to see the ongoing progress, and to welcome these new employees to Main Roads across our great southern and south west regions,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti says.
“The transition process is going to deliver better outcomes for workers, regional economies and our road network, meaning more local jobs and road maintenance crews that are better placed to respond to issues when we need them.”