Ms McCARTHY - 2006-08-29
The Central Arnhem Road runs 670 km from Nhulunbuy on the north-eastern edge of Arnhem Land to the Stuart Highway just out of Katherine, and is used by residents of many remote communities, including those of Beswick, Bulman and Ramingining in my electorate of Arnhem. Could you advise the House of the Martin government’s commitment to maintaining this important transport link?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I know she takes a very active interest in the provision of infrastructure within her electorate. As she pointed out, the Central Arnhem Road is of vital importance to the electorate, not only of Arnhem, but also the electorate of Nhulunbuy. There are many people who live there who use the Central Arnhem Road on a regular basis, as well as visitors to Nhulunbuy. There are local residents and community members in the electorate of Arnhem, and, the pastoral industry, who use that road. Part of our $10m package for our beef roads includes this particular road.
As members would be aware, a portion of the road is sealed – approximately 60 km - and there is 600 km of unsealed road from there on. It is a challenge. Earlier this year, Cyclone Monica dumped a lot of rain in that region, so maintaining that road does present challenges. The road crosses several rivers, including the Waterhouse, the Mainoru, the Wilton and the Goyder.
I am pleased to announce that the government has recently awarded a $1.7m contract to a local company, Steelcon Constructions, to build a bridge over the Wilton River just north of Bulman. The contract also includes protection works and sealed approaches, as well as the construction of a culvert on a smaller branch of the Wilton River. This $1.7m will enhance flood immunity at the crossing and improve access in the Arnhem region during and after the Wet Season. Work is already under way and I am hopeful of completion in early December.
The government has also called for tenders for re-sheeting 14 sections of the Central Arnhem Road between Conways and Bulman. That work is estimated to cost in the region of $450 000. Tenders close on 13 September.
In light of some of the questions here today, I would like to compliment the Construction Division and the public servants who work so very hard within that division of Planning and Infrastructure. These are people who have had to contend with record capital works budgets, I suppose, over the last four years of this government, and delivered in a climate of rising costs. I take my hat off to those people. Some of them are very experienced, and they have said to me that it is difficult in this climate of rising costs. When the opposition is criticising government about what they call cost escalations, they are really criticising public servants who provide this advice to the government. I say, shame on the opposition, Madam Speaker.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Arnhem for her question. I know she takes a very active interest in the provision of infrastructure within her electorate. As she pointed out, the Central Arnhem Road is of vital importance to the electorate, not only of Arnhem, but also the electorate of Nhulunbuy. There are many people who live there who use the Central Arnhem Road on a regular basis, as well as visitors to Nhulunbuy. There are local residents and community members in the electorate of Arnhem, and, the pastoral industry, who use that road. Part of our $10m package for our beef roads includes this particular road.
As members would be aware, a portion of the road is sealed – approximately 60 km - and there is 600 km of unsealed road from there on. It is a challenge. Earlier this year, Cyclone Monica dumped a lot of rain in that region, so maintaining that road does present challenges. The road crosses several rivers, including the Waterhouse, the Mainoru, the Wilton and the Goyder.
I am pleased to announce that the government has recently awarded a $1.7m contract to a local company, Steelcon Constructions, to build a bridge over the Wilton River just north of Bulman. The contract also includes protection works and sealed approaches, as well as the construction of a culvert on a smaller branch of the Wilton River. This $1.7m will enhance flood immunity at the crossing and improve access in the Arnhem region during and after the Wet Season. Work is already under way and I am hopeful of completion in early December.
The government has also called for tenders for re-sheeting 14 sections of the Central Arnhem Road between Conways and Bulman. That work is estimated to cost in the region of $450 000. Tenders close on 13 September.
In light of some of the questions here today, I would like to compliment the Construction Division and the public servants who work so very hard within that division of Planning and Infrastructure. These are people who have had to contend with record capital works budgets, I suppose, over the last four years of this government, and delivered in a climate of rising costs. I take my hat off to those people. Some of them are very experienced, and they have said to me that it is difficult in this climate of rising costs. When the opposition is criticising government about what they call cost escalations, they are really criticising public servants who provide this advice to the government. I say, shame on the opposition, Madam Speaker.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016