The Flinders and Etheridge shires are claiming the distinction of being the first in Australia to convert Northern Australia Roads Program dollars into bitumen.
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By the end of 2017 the Flinders shire had completed 13 kilometres of sealing work on the Hann Highway between Hughenden and The Lynd, and the Etheridge shire immediately to the north had widened a section.
“They’re the first of the NARP projects to get the black stuff on the road,” Flinders shire mayor, Jane McNamara, said.
“It’s thanks to a very proactive project team.”
The seals were among 19 high priority roads projects in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland identified in the $600 million Developing Northern Australia White Paper which was released in June 2015.
It was announced on Monday that another of those projects, the 3.5 kilometre widening and sealing of a section of the Kennedy Development Road between Mount Garnet and The Lynd had been completed, at a cost of $3.32 million.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Barnaby Joyce, said its completion was a milestone for the government’s flagship NARP funding program.
“This project demonstrates the Australian government is getting on with the job of developing the north,” Mr Joyce said.
“The Australian and Queensland governments have worked with the Flinders and Etheridge Shire Councils to ensure there were employment and training opportunities for local indigenous workers, businesses and suppliers during the project.”
The federal government committed $2.66 million toward the upgrade and Queensland provided $660,000.
Queensland’s Transport Minister, Mark Bailey, said the project just completed and the ongoing 42 kilometre sealing projects between Hughenden and The Lynd would support 120 direct jobs.
Cr McNamara said the media release put out by both tiers of government was a pleasing indicator that state and federal colleagues were working together on delivering the road projects to the region.
She said it was now important to ensure funding continued to be delivered to ensure the rest of the important road link was completed within the next five years.
“As far as we’re concerned, the Torrens Creek to Aramac Road forms part of that vision,” she said.
“We’d like the government to assist us in getting the remainder of the money to finish sealing that and the Hann Highway within the next five years.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
