Report highlights roads to enable access to Pilbara minerals (A/Min)

21/7/97

The provision of roads to enable access to the minerals and natural resources in the Pilbara has a high priority in the final report of the Regional Road Development Strategy for the Pilbara Region.

The report is the third in the series covering each of the State's regions as part of the program known as ROADS 2020.

Releasing the report today, Acting Transport Minister Paul Omodei said it had been prepared after extensive community consultation and analysis of the comments by representatives of local and State Governments. The report considered aspects of the region, especially transport, as they related to the economic, community, tourism and safety needs.

The Regional Road Development Strategy for the Pilbara Region to the year 2020 has identified 61 road development proposals. The majority of the work involves the upgrading of existing roads that vary in standard from unformed tracks to two-lane sealed roads.

The only key road development project on the Perth - Darwin National Highway identified is the construction of a second carriageway between Wallwork and Port Hedland Roads in Port Hedland Shire.

Projects on State roads include:-

. Karratha - Dampier Road. Construction of turning and passing lanes at the intersection of Karratha Tip Road;

. Marble Bar Road. Upgrade the entire route in stages to meet community needs;

· Nanutarra - Munjina Road. Seal the unsealed section between Paraburdoo turnoff and Tom Price Western Access and construct a deviation at Wittenoom;

· North West Coastal Highway. Widen the seal from Minilya to Nanutarra; provide a two-lane bridge over the Ashburton River at Nanutarra; construct bridges at Cave Creek, Why Why Creek, Little George River, Lulu Creek, Hilux Creek and Unamed Creek and bridges at Goordeman Creek, Toolunga Creek, Peedamulla West Creek and Peedamulla East Creek;

· Port Hedland Road. Construct a dual carriageway between Broome turnoff and Wedge Street in Port Hedland and duplicate Redbank Bridge; and -

. Port Samson - Roebourne Road. Construct a bridge and widen Pope's Nose causeway.

Local government roads:-

. Ashburton Downs - Meekatharra Road. Upgrade the section from the proposed Karijini Road (Marandoo to Great Northern Highway). Construct a two-lane sealed road between Marandoo and Great Northern Highway, including sealing the access road into Yampire Gorge;

. Karratha to Tom Price. Carry out Paraburdoo - Mt Augustus link to the region boundary to a formed road standard;

. Cossack Road. Upgrade the causeway sections to 7m-wide sealed standard, instal culverts and raise the level of the pavement above the tidal zone and provide scour protection where required;

. Jupiter Well to WA border. Upgrade the the section from Jupiter Well through Kiwirrkurra to the State border to a formed road standard; . a study to identify a preferred route for a sealed road between North West Coastal Highway, near Karratha and Tom Price;

. Karratha Western Access. Construct a 7m sealed road between North West Coastal Highway and Karratha Road;

. Limestone - Marble Bar Road. Widen the seal to 7m;

. Marble Bar Road to Parrngurr (Talawana Track). Upgrade the road to a formed road, including the access road to Jigalong;

. Marble Bar Road to Woodie Woodie via Rippon Hills. Construct a sealed road through Rippon Hills to connect Marble Bar Road to with Woodie Woodie Road near Telfer Road turnoff and upgrade Woodie Woodie Road from Telfer Road turnoff to Woodie Woodie to a gravel road. As a second stage, Woodie Woodie Road from Telfer Road turnoff to Woodie Woodie will be sealed;

. Marble Bar - Woodstock Road. Upgrade the road to a uniform formed road;

. Pannawonica - Millstream Access. Upgrade the road in stages to a formed road, then a gravel road and ultimately provide a sealed road;

. Paraburdoo - Mt Augustus. Construct a gravel road in stages to provide a direct route between Paraburdoo and Mt Augustus;

. South Hedland townsite to Great Northern Highway Link. Construct a sealed road eastward to provide an eastern access to South Hedland;

. Telfer Road/Punmu Access. Upgrade the road in stages to a formed road and then to a gravel road; and -

. Wickham industrial site access. Construct a new 7m wide sealed road from North West Coastal Highway into the proposed Wickham industrial site.

Acting Transport Minister Paul Omodei said environmental sensitivities, social equity and public safety had been key considerations in planning for the future development of the region's road network.

"The strategy is intended to help guide State and local government decision-making on the investment of road funds," Mr Omodei said.

The strategy is to be reviewed on a regular basis in response to changing needs in the region through such things as new mining developments, new industry, new tourist sites and possible shifts in other modes of transport.

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 366 0200