EXCLUSIVE

CALVERT, Mount Forbes and Ironbark residents will soon be driving on upgraded gravel roads as several roads have been identified to be upgraded from unmaintained gravel roads to maintained roads.

In making the announcement, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, said the upgrades would ensure a higher standard of road and improved safety for rural communities.

“Council has included $1.5 million, as part of $6.2 million over three years, for reconstruction of existing gravel roads across the city,” Cr Harding said.

“Ipswich currently has 251km network of gravel roads.

“This financial year we will be moving Cummings Road and Ferling Road in Calvert, Hedricks Road at Mount Forbes and Schultzs Road at Ironbark, to become part of our maintained gravel roads schedule.

“This includes a $500,000 commitment to bring these roads up to a high standard with improved drainage, gravel formation, gravel patching and shoulder repairs.”

Once the roads have been upgraded, council will continue to maintain them to the same standard.

“Upgrading these roads means these roads will be more resilient, cause less dust and are safer to travel on, strengthening links in our rural communities,” Cr Harding said.

“As our city grows, we will do all we can to improve travel for residents using these roads, and ensure our rural residents are not left behind.”

An unmaintained road is a road reserve or private driveway that is not constructed to a standard and are not maintained by Council.

The Ipswich region has about 24.5km of unmaintained roads.

A maintained road is one that is upgraded to a high standard and kept on a rotation schedule for maintenance by council.

A maintained road may be gravel or bitumen.

Council’s 2025-2026 Budget includes $1.4 million to maintain Ipswich’s network of gravel roads.

“Council has been working in recent years to upgrade the city’s gravel roads,” Cr Harding said.

“Council also has a policy for road crews to make ad hoc repairs to unmaintained roads following resident requests.

“Funding has also been set aside to progress forward design of future citywide sealing of gravel roads.”