Roads a big Territory budget winner with $2.2bn cash splash
A $2.24bn infrastructure program is being spruiked as the most significant investment in the area in the Territory’s history. Read where the money is going.
Northern Territory
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The NT government is set to pour more than $2bn into the Territory’s “roads, aerodromes, jetties and barge landings” in Tuesday’s budget.
The $2.24bn road and transport infrastructure program is being spruiked as “the most significant investment in the Territory’s history” and includes money to upgrade and seal dilapidated roads throughout the NT.
The cash splash includes $214.8m for gas industry roads; $178.1m for the Tanami Rd; $165.6m for the Central Arnhem Rd; $114m for the Buntine Highway; $90.4m for the Carpentaria Highway; $69.3m for the Tiwi Islands road; $67.3m for roads in Kakadu National Park; $60.2m for the Port Keats Rd; $42m for the Outback Way; and $10.7m for the Arnhem Highway.
It also includes a $415m NT strategic roads package announced last year, with the Australian government committing $332m and the NT government contributing $83m.
The federal government is also contributing $350m of the funding for the sealing of the Tanami and Central Arnhem roads.
Much of the new funding is set to roll out over the next one to three years. Picture:
Works are already commencing under that package with a tender released for construction work on the Santa Teresa Rd.
The budget will also include a continued commitment to a $108m spend on the Berrimah Rd/Tiger Brennan Dr overpass, which is currently under construction.
Sealing of the Mereenie Loop and improved access to Maningrida, Ramingining and the Milingimbi mainland barge ramps are also included.
Much of the new funding is set to roll out over the next one to three years.
Treasurer and Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said sealing Territory roads was a priority for the government “to unlock economic opportunities, whether that’s for pastoralists, miners, tourists or for locals”.
“Better roads across the Territory means a better economy, it means safer trips to work, and it means more reliable access for regional communities,” she said.
“The Territory is leading the way in the roads and transport infrastructure sector and this is backed up by the continuous support from the commonwealth.
“This is a significant announcement which will enable major growth right across the Territory and is another step towards our goal of a $40 billion economy by 2030.”
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