‘Total experience’: $180 million road project a ‘single-handed game changer for tourism industry’

CENTRAL Australia could be home to ‘one of the premier tourism drives of the world’ if a push for a sealed road between Uluru and Alice Springs succeeds

Tourism Central Australia chairman Patrick Bedford says he is calling on the Federal and Territory Governments to support an industry crippled by the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic

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CENTRAL Australia could be home to “one of the premier tourism drives of the world” if a push for a sealed road between Uluru and Alice Springs succeeds.

The project, expected to cost $180 million, would stretch 125km.

Tourism Central Australia chairman Patrick Bedford said the industry was “on its knees” and “basically in (its) darkest hour”.

He is calling on the Federal and Territory Governments to support an industry crippled by the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The road links Uluru and Kings Canyon to the West MacDonnell Ranges and Alice Springs.

“Known as the Mereenie Loop road, this road will be a single-handed game changer for the tourism industry,” Mr Bedford said.

He said the project has been talked about for more than 30 years in Central Australia.

Heavy earthmoving equipment being used in the upgrade of the Mereenie Loop road near Kings Canyon in 2014. Picture: Phil Williams

“This will tie into opening up a lot of infrastructure funding for the region, a lot of jobs and a lot of opportunities,” he said.

“Currently people have to have a 4WD vehicle … it adds a whole lot more journey (for those who don’t).

“It opens up a whole lot more productivity for touring job opportunities, businesses out through that region as well, and then with the National Aboriginal Art Gallery being built in Alice Springs it ties in that whole region and it becomes one of those world class attractions in Central Australia.

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“The sealing of this small section of road will create one of the premier tourism drives of not only Australia, but of the world.”

Outback Tour Services general manager Pieter Bosch said the announcement was great for tour companies, however as a fan of off-road adventures it would a “a shame to seal what is an iconic dirt road”.

“However the advantages for tour companies outweigh that in a very big way,” Mr Bosch said.

“There are other opportunities for 4WD tracks for those looking for it.

“For tour companies the economic benefit is you’ll be saving 200km for every trip from Uluru to Alice Springs, and factoring in things like driver fatigue.”

He said it would be an “enormous saving” based on the average company sending 1000 tours a year.

Mr Bedford described the route as a “total experience”.

“The drive market is a critically important tourism sector for the Northern Territory,” Mr Bedford said.

“It will also decrease the costs for the mining and pastoral sectors and provide better access to remote Indigenous communities.

“It will create unique opportunities between Uluru and Alice Springs to view, enjoy and appreciate the spectacular landscape and environment, and to immerse where appropriate in our amazingly rich Indigenous culture”.

Mr Bedford said he has written to both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister indicating to them “the one single biggest infrastructure project to support Central Australia post Covid is to seal this road”.

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“We are calling on Government to work respectfully with the traditional owners and custodians of the land to make this project that has been talked about for decades a reality.”