1. Which of the following roads, mentioned in the minister's
letter dated 30 June 1992, are -

(a) heavily trafficked roads which are graded from 4 to
8 times annually and receive an annual grade, water
and roll and isolated gravelling; or

(b) are graded once or twice annually -

(i) Hermannsburg/Wallace Rockhole

(ii) Hermannsburg/Areyonga

(iii) "West MacDonnells Loop"

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(iv) Haasts Bluff/Glen Helen

(v) Glen Helen/Areyonga

(vi) Glen Helen/Hermannsburg

(vii) Simpson Desert Highway

(viii) Ross Highway

(ix) Papunya/Tanami Highway

(x) Areyonga/Watarrka

(xi) Papunya/Haasts Bluff

(xii) Mt Liebig/Kintore

(xiii) Finke/Stuart Highway

(xiv) Finke/Maryvale

(xv) Olgas/Docker River

(xvi) Orange Creek/Deep Well

(xvii) Impadna/Idracowra/Lilla Creek/
Horseshoe Bend/Finke

(xviii) Stuart Highway/Wallara

(xix) Docker River/Kintore

(xx) Victory Downs/Mulga Park/Curtin Springs

2. What recommendations were provided in respect of these roads
by the Pavement Management System.

3. On what date was each of these roads graded.

4. When is it proposed that each of these roads will be again graded.

5. In respect of the approximate maintenance costs for roads
identified in the minister's letter dated 30 June 1992 -

(a) How have these costs increased;

(b) What was the cost of a full maintenance grade -

(i) on a major formed road; and

(ii) on a minor unformed road;

(c) What was the cost of a grade, water and roll;

(d) What was the cost of recompaction;

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(e) What was the cost of resheeting;

(f) What was the cost of resealing in 1990, 1985, 1980;

(g) What was the traffic volume for each of these roads;

(h) How is traffic volume assessed;

(i) What are the priorities for sealing these roads;

(j) What are the priorities for sealing other roads in
the Northern Territory; and

(k) Which roads not specified in 1(b) above are
maintained by the Department of Transport and Works
in the electorate of MacDonnell.

6. Which existing roads actually contribute to the "West MacDonnells Loop".

7. When will tenders be let for the following new works
(announced on page 32 of the 1992-93 Budget Capital Works,
Budget Paper No 5) -

(a) Luritja Road - sealing, Stage 1 $1.3m;

(b) Mereenie Link Road, Stage 1 - Mereenie to Watarrka $1m;

(c) Ross Highway - Arltunga turnoff to Ross River
Homestead (minor upgrading at stream crossings)
$150 000; and

(d) West MacDonnells - Hermannsburg/Glen Helen Loop
(Tyler's Pass) $800 000.

8. What maintenance programs are to be carried out on these
roads in the interim period.

ANSWER

1. (a) Roads graded 4 to 8 times annually are -

(xviii) Stuart Highway/Wallara.

(b) Roads graded once or twice annually are -

(i) Hermannsburg/Wallace Rockhole;

(vii) Simpson Desert Highway; and

(xvi) Orange Creek/Deep Well.

Notes:

The Areyonga/Watarrka, Finke/Maryvale and Docker
River/Kintore roads are not government assets and
are not maintained by the government.

All other roads listed have an opening grade and
2 maintenance grades annually.

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In addition, the Hermannsburg/Wallace Rockhole,
Hermannsburg/Areyonga, Papunya/Tanami Highway and
Olgas/Docker River roads are watered, rolled and
gravelled annually.

2. No recommendations have yet been made. The Pavement
Management Systems data collection phase for gravel roads is
not yet completed as priority has been given to sealed roads
in the network and, in particular, the National Highways.

3. & 4.

Last Next
Grade Scheduled

(i) Hermannsburg/Wallace Rockhole Nov. 92 April 93
(ii) Hermannsburg/Areyonga Feb. 93 July 93
(iii) 'West MacDonnells Loop' Jan. 93 July 93
(iv) Haasts Bluff/Glen Helen Jan. 93 July 93
(v) Glen Helen/Areyonga Jan. 93 July 93
(vi) Glen Helen/Hermannsburg Oct. 92 July 93
(vii) Simpson Desert Highway Sept. 92 July 93
(viii) Ross Highway Jan. 93 June 93
(ix) Papunya/Tanami Highway Oct. 92 March 93
(xi) Papunya/Haasts Bluff Jan. 93 July 93
(xii) Mt Liebig/Kintore Feb. 92 March 93
(xiii) Finke/Stuart Highway Oct. 92 April 93
(xv) Olgas/Docker River Feb. 93 July 93
(xvi) Orange Creek/Deep Well July 92 March 93
(xvii) Impadna/Idracowra/Lilla Creek/
Horseshoe Bend/Finke Dec. 92 May 93
(xviii) Stuart Highway/Wallara Feb. 93 April 93
(xx) Victory Downs/Mulga Park/
Curtin Springs Aug. 92 March 93

5. (a) Unit maintenance costs have remained relatively
stable in recent years. There have been no
significant increases.

(b) Costs of a full maintenance grade were -

(i) on a major formed road - $110 to $115 per km.

(ii) on a minor unformed road - $50 to $55 per km.

(c) Grade, water and roll - $0.28 per m².

(d) Recompaction - $0.55 per m².

(e) Resheeting - $2.30 per m².

(f) Costs of resealing -

1990 $1,054,551
1985-86 $ 425,509
1980 Not available

(g) The most recently assessed average daily traffic volumes are -

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Hermannsburg/Areyonga 42
Glen Helen/Hermannsburg/Areyonga 20
Ross Highway 32 km E of Alice Springs 150
Papunya/Tanami Highway 30
Finke/Stuart Highway 18
Olgas/Docker River 13
Stuart Highway/Wallara 56
Victory Downs/Mulga Park/Curtin Springs 15

(h) Traffic volumes are assessed utilising traffic
counters at selected locations within the road
network. On higher trafficked roads there are
permanent stations with continuous counting.
Lightly trafficked roads are monitored with
temporary stations on a needs basis.

(i) & (j)

Sealing priorities are basically assessed on a
road's maintainable condition and the volumes of
traffic using it, its relationship with other roads
in the network and pre-determined forward
strategies.

(k) The map provided to the Member for MacDonnell
outlined the principal maintained public roads in
the Northern Territory - Electorate of MacDonnell.

6. Existing roads that are part of the 'West MacDonnells to
Watarrka Link Road' are -

Larapinta Drive, Namatjira Drive, Hermannsburg/Glen Helen
Loop and Mereenie Link Road.

7. Anticipated dates of tenders -

(a) Luritja Road - work in progress - tender let 15/1/93.

(b) Mereenie Link Road - subject to finalising
negotiations with CLC.

(c) Ross Highway - June 1993.

(d) West MacDonnells - Hermannsburg/Glen Helen - May 1993.

8. Only maintenance of a routine nature will be undertaken on
roads listed for an early upgrade. This will include -

routine grading;

watering and rolling; and

isolated resheeting if needed on heavily trafficked roads.

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