There’ll be no shortcut to Reward following a recent decision by Central Highlands Council.
The Queensland Sapphire Miners Association made a submission to council to upgrade a track from Sapphire to Reward citing that it was in the ‘public interest’ that the road be accessible for emergency management and tourism reasons.
Councils Manager Technical Services Steven Ripper explained that the proposition to upgrade the track was considered at length with much consultation.
‘The Association advised us that the track had been used by the people of and visitors to the Gemfields to access fossicking land at Reward since at least 1967.
‘There is a public road reserve, with what we would class as a dirt track, traversing on and off it through private property for about six kilometres that is locally known as Old Reward Road. The other way to Reward is via the Keilambete Road, which is 13 kilometres longer.
‘The issue is that the owner of the land surrounding the track is keen to have the road closed, but the Association is equally keen to have it remain open and made serviceable in all weather.
‘The track is in poor condition and is regularly impassable in bad weather.
‘Council representatives consulted with the Association, the land owner, the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, the Queensland Ambulance Service, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and the Queensland Police.
‘The Department of Natural Resources and Mines advised they require a 200-metre-wide stock route in the vicinity of the current road reserve and council will advise them of the best location for this accordingly.
‘After due consideration, council made the decision to not construct or maintain the road between Sapphire and Reward simply because the cost of construction and the ongoing maintenance commitment outweighed the potential use,’ Mr Ripper explained.