West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC) road crews working on the remote Murganella Road last year successfully completed their Traffic Management Work Zone two and three and white card training.
The Top End gravel road runs from the “three-ways” intersection with the Gunbalanya-Maningrida Road to the former community of Wauk, or Murganella, on the Cobourg Peninsula to the north.
WARC Project Manager Claire Smerdon said the training, which was held on the roadworks site in a demountable crib hut, was facilitated by Charles Darwin University.
“We had 100 percent attendance, with everyone turning up on time,” Ms Smerdon said. “This has resulted in seven full-time Indigenous positions on the road crew.”
“There are also six Indigenous plant operators working on the road project.”
WARC Project Administrator Clem Beard said the crews were pushing on with upgrade works and meeting construction targets.
“The workers live on site and work six days per week.
“We have ablution blocks and a full-time cook at the camp, which we will be looking to move up near Murganella as the project nears completion.”
The new plant and equipment, including a grader, had been brought in and put straight to use.
Mr Beard said, “This equipment is now bringing in revenue that the Regional Council can use for other works in communities around West Arnhem.
“The project is currently on schedule, with the crew hitting the 20-kilometre mark in the third week of construction.
“Their efficiency is getting better every week.”
