Main Roads WA to open new office in the heart of Manjimup to support road maintenance across the South West

An empty building in the heart of Manjimup is set to become the location for a new Main Roads WA office that will support road maintenance across the South West. The old Department of Education building on Rose Street will be repurposed as a local interface point for Main Roads and will house more than 20 employees, including a new project manager, network inspection and operations workers, maintenance, safety and environmental staff and business support. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti made the announcement at the site on Monday, where the State Government committed to return road maintenance back in-house to Main Roads earlier this year. The new facility is part of a $48.8 million investment being made over the next six years on new regional staff housing, depots, and offices, which will create 490 permanent jobs within Main Roads in regional WA. The Manjimup office is expected to be operational in March. Ms Saffioti said she looked forward to welcoming Main Roads new staff next year. “Establishing the new office will provide a long-term regional employment opportunity for the South West, and a new local interface for Main Roads customers,” she said. “This is a really exciting time for the State Government and for Main Roads, with road maintenance being progressively brought in-house across the State.” Once fully implemented across the State, the initiative will result in savings of more than $25 million a year, producing major economic benefits and increased employment opportunities for regional WA. “This is a big win for jobs and economic prosperity, and it highlights our commitment to regional Western Australia as part of the transition to in-house road maintenance,” Ms Saffioti said. Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie said it would benefit the region and support the creation and retention of local jobs for the community.