The debate over the possible sealing of the iconic Tanami Road between Halls Creek in Western Australia and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory continues apace. The graded dirt highway, which links the Kimberley to the Red Centre, is a favourite with many adventurous 4WDing grey nomads – but is still considered too daunting by many.
Last month, an economic study revealed that the project would cost over $300 million … but it concluded that it would still be a viable project.
According to the ABC, a similar study in 2009, put the costs at only $160 million, but those calculations were based on the road being constructed to local authority standards rather than government standards.
This new study, commissioned by the Shire of Halls Creek, concludes that – despite the inflated cost – the project would still easily pay for itself through increased tourism, mining activity and reduced freight costs.
“We were told that Main Roads WA and the NT Department of Infrastructure and Planning would support the proposal if the project was shown to have positive economic benefits when assessed at what they considered to be ‘realistic’ construction costs”, Halls Creek Shire president, Sciona Browne, told the ABC. “Now that those benefits have been demonstrated, we will be talking again to all stakeholders.”
Ms Brown said – as well as boosting tourism – the improved inter-regional transport link would substantially cut the costs of living and doing business in the Kimberley region, provide improved access for Kimberley products to southern markets, and further consolidate Alice Springs’ role as a major transport and servicing hub in the centre of Australia.
Would you like to see the Tanami sealed or would it reduce too much the adventure element of taking the track? Would you travel the route if it was sealed? Would you like to see other iconic tracks like the Gibb River Road or the Birdsville Track fully sealed, as well? Comment below.
I would love to travel the Tanami and the Gibb River road but am not likely to do so unless they are sealed. Our van would not cope well with the current roads and neither would I.
I would love to travel both of the roads but our van would get shaken to death on them at the moment. The economic advantages to those on or near the track would be enormous
Having just driven the ” iconic ” Tanami track I can assure you it is in no way a highway nor is it graded over anywhere near it’s full length. I was also told by a member of the Halls Creek Shire that the cost of sealing the Tanami would be close to $570million near double that quoted in your article
Actually, the cost of sealing a road in an urban area is roughly $1,000,000 per kilometre putting the price of sealing the Tanami at about $1 billion.
No, I would not like to see the Birdsvile Track sealed, but maybe the Tanami, as it is a direct link to the West.
Having done both Gibb and Tanami with a 4wd and a 1978, 12′ Millard, I feel it would be a loss to the adventurers among us, but economically it makes huge sense. Particularly as our economy is held up by the Resources Sector.
Having just travelled the Tanami and Gibb I think it would be fantastic for tourism and the economy if both of these roads were sealed. The environment would also benefit because it would be easier to access and clean up wayside stops which at the moment are pretty filthy – rubbish everywhere.