Ms ANDERSON - 2006-06-14
Can you advise the House on progress of the upgrading of tourist loop roads in Central Australia?
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for her question. She is a very active local member. The West MacDonnell tourist loop road is a very important development in South Australia – in Central Australia rather …
Mrs Braham: South Australia? Better not send it to South Australia.
Dr BURNS: It does not extend that far, member for Braitling.
It is a very important development. It is a magnificent part of the world. I am sure a lot of tourists use it already. When this loop road is completed, there will be even more. There has been significant expenditure and work done on this road already and, in the 2006-07 year, there will be $13.9m spent, which is significant.
The contract is being let in two tranches. The first part is a $4m contract - one of the largest of its kind in the Territory - to source gravel there. Larapinta Constructions was the successful tenderer. They will excavate, screen, crush, and blend the gravel. What is significant is that Larapinta Construction is a joint venture between DAC Enterprises and Ntaria Council. As it is a joint venture, Ntaria Council will benefit directly from the contract, but it also has the opportunity to benefit from the jobs and training that the contract will deliver. The council has already purchased a 960 CAT loader and will provide training to people working on that contract. It is a great opportunity for that council, which is in the member’s electorate, to develop as a civil contractor.
It shows the government’s commitment, through road construction, to fostering jobs and regional development for a great project, which is the West MacDonnell tourist loop road.
ANSWER
Mr Acting Speaker, I thank the member for her question. She is a very active local member. The West MacDonnell tourist loop road is a very important development in South Australia – in Central Australia rather …
Mrs Braham: South Australia? Better not send it to South Australia.
Dr BURNS: It does not extend that far, member for Braitling.
It is a very important development. It is a magnificent part of the world. I am sure a lot of tourists use it already. When this loop road is completed, there will be even more. There has been significant expenditure and work done on this road already and, in the 2006-07 year, there will be $13.9m spent, which is significant.
The contract is being let in two tranches. The first part is a $4m contract - one of the largest of its kind in the Territory - to source gravel there. Larapinta Constructions was the successful tenderer. They will excavate, screen, crush, and blend the gravel. What is significant is that Larapinta Construction is a joint venture between DAC Enterprises and Ntaria Council. As it is a joint venture, Ntaria Council will benefit directly from the contract, but it also has the opportunity to benefit from the jobs and training that the contract will deliver. The council has already purchased a 960 CAT loader and will provide training to people working on that contract. It is a great opportunity for that council, which is in the member’s electorate, to develop as a civil contractor.
It shows the government’s commitment, through road construction, to fostering jobs and regional development for a great project, which is the West MacDonnell tourist loop road.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016