Representatives from Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory met in Alice Springs in August this year to express their commitment to the enhancement of the Outback Highway to become an all weather road.The Mayors of Alice Springs, Kalgoorlie, Boulia and Winton agreed that the Outback Highway was Australia’s vital third transport artery.
The Highway links the East Coast, starting at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach Queensland with the Mining Hall of Fame in Kalgoorlie Western Australia with Laverton as the starting point in the West.
The Mayors acknowledged the commitment by the Western Australian, Queensland and Northern Territory Governments. They called on the Commonwealth to make a greater financial commitment to ensure that the Outback Highway becomes Australia’s third link.
A total of $120 million is required to make the Highway an all weather road link, with a further $180 million to make it a black top road. Currently, the Northern Territory Government has promised $40 million over the next two terms. The benefits to Australia from an economic, social, tourism and defence/strategic perspective is enormous. Chairman of the 2002 Year of the Outback, Bruce Campbell, was also at the meeting and gave his full support to the Outback Highway.
A delegation will seek to meet the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and other key Ministers as well as the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition to ensure bipartisan support and financial assistance in 2002 from the Commonwealth. This will make the Outback Highway a truly national initiative involving six local Councils in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia and the respective State and Territory governments.
For further information contact Alice Springs Town Council Mayor, Councillor Fran Erlich on (08) 8950 0500.
