Media Statement - 16th November 2007
A Rudd Labor government will improve flood immunity, road safety and productivity on Northern Territory highways with a $160 million commitment from AusLink II for better truck parking bays and rest areas, more overtaking lanes, town bypasses, high level bridges and stronger, wider pavements.
A further $100 million will be provided over the AusLink II period for the forgotten heroes of the Northern Territory’s highways – road maintenance crews. They are the lifesavers of the highway – fixing potholes and keeping the road safe day and night.
More money for road maintenance should be a priority on both sides of the political median strip. Labor will give maintenance crews the funding they need to do their job properly without having to cut corners.
$100 million will boost maintenance funding from around $13 million a year today to $20 million so potholes are filled quickly, bridges and culverts are maintained, and NT highways are safer.
Labor’s plan for NT highways makes a $160 million down payment to get moving now on:
- A heavy vehicle bypass around Katherine
- A rail overpass on the Stuart Highway south of Alice Springs and intersection improvements at the airport turnoff
- A high level bridge over the King River and provision of overtaking lanes
- A high level bridge over the Cullen River and provision of overtaking lanes
- Flood immunity improvements on the Stuart Highway at Gilbert Swamp, the north approach to Palmer River Bridge, north of King River and Kalamurta Creek
- More overtaking lanes between Darwin and Katherine with a minimum 3km length
- Better facilities, access and safety measures for truck sparking bays and rest areas
- Stronger and wider pavements to boost road safety
Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism, Martin Ferguson said the projects would focus on the Northern Territory’s main transport artery, the Stuart Highway.
“I’m a passionate believer in better roads and facilities to help our truck drivers do their jobs safely.
“They are the backbone of the nation, getting our exports to market, delivering our freight.
“It’s a tough life on the road – fatigue management is a big issue and this funding will give them safer, better facilities at truck stops, wider and safer roads, and more overtaking opportunities.”
Federal Labor member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon welcomed the funding, saying “With the mining boom, the number of road trains on the Stuart Highway has grown rapidly and this serious injection of Federal funding will go a long way to remedying more than a decade of neglect.
“Without a high level bridge over the Cullen River, we can’t ensure evacuation of Darwin by road in the event of a severe cyclone.
“Residents in Katherine have more than 60 road trains a day trundling through their streets.
“People wouldn’t put up with that anywhere else in Australia.
“And Territorians shouldn’t have to either.”
Mr. Ferguson said “These projects will build on Labor’s previous $52 million commitment to NT Community, Beef and Mining Roads and our $74 million commitment to upgrade Tiger Brennan Drive in Darwin and streamline access to the Darwin Port.
“Our commitments are an economically responsible investment that will boost productivity and secure jobs for the future.
“This funding for the Northern Territory is part of Federal Labor’s commitment to focus its transport policy on Australia’s national economic priorities – productivity gains in export supply chains and the general freight task, integrating land transport with ports, and easing urban congestion.”
Federal Labor has a transport plan for the Northern Territory’s future and we will work shoulder to shoulder with the Northern Territory government to deliver it.
Federal Labor’s $386 million AusLink II investment in Northern Territory roads:
- $74 million for Tiger Brennan Drive
- $52 million for Community, Beef and Mining Roads
- $260 million for NT highways