More of Australia’s most iconic – and most bumpy – roads are to be sealed after some serious funding pledges in last week’s Budget.
The headline news is the federal government’s confirmation that it will fund sealing the remainder of the Outback Way, which runs from Laverton in Western Australia to Winton in Queensland,
After 25 years of stops and starts, the ABC reports that more than half of the 2,700-kilometre drive – also knowns as Australia’s longest short cut – still remains unpaved.
However, the government’s $678 million investment — a budget commitment made by the previous Coalition government and carried through by Labor – should see the job finally completed.
The Outback Way looks set to be fully sealed. PIC: Australian Government
“”It’s a moment in history,” said Outback Highway Development Council (OHDC) general manager, Helen Lewis. “We now have a national bipartisan project that is going to be finished, and it’s going to connect the nation.”
The track which passes through many Outback towns and remote communities will now be opened up to many more grey nomads seeking a different adventure.
Ms Lewis told the ABC she believed the final portion of road could be sealed within the next five years ‘if we just keep going’.
And the Government has also pledged a further $740 million to upgrade the Tanami Road and Central Arnhem Road, as well as funding to pave the scenic Mereenie Loop Road.
Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford told the ABC the funding commitments were the result of many years of advocacy.
“With the announcements … it will only prove that all roads lead to Alice Springs, and that’s going to be a boon for the drive tourism market,” he said. “People will be able to go from anywhere in Australia to Alice Springs with their caravan … and what we know is grey nomads spend money and they spend money in our local economy, and that’s going to be great for our future.”
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Bring it on, can’t wait to drive these roads.
Leave them alone, good to be off the black stuff. Of course locals will probably appreciate it.
Any dirt road converted to bitumen is good. The people who harp-on about the “loss of adventure” need to look at it from the local’s and transport drivers point of view. Imagine the outcry if all of the roads around Bondi, Gold Coast or Brighton were corrugated, dusty and vehicle wreckers. Politicians would be hung from the nearest high rise apartment.
Give the masses access to these areas. The tourists may or may not decide to visit, but at least the locals who use the roads regularly will be grateful for the upgrade. As the roads improve many businesses will pop-up along these routes and further add to the local economy.
I too say “Bring it on”.
Great news for grey nomads and the towns along the way that the grey nomads will spend their money in. I sure will.
I love this. Sooner the better. If they build it they will come.
A great idea. There will still be heaps of dirt roads but it will be a great shortcut for trucks and the rest of us from WA, QLD, NT and some of NSW.
Won’t go if it is sealed. Not iconic anymore
Excellent choice.
Way to go Julie cheers Stan
Driven the whole distance a few times over the last decade from Qld to WA…(with the Van) The longest shortcut.
Great adventure…it will be great to do it again without shaking my teeth out.
Cheers.
The experience is driving these roads as they are just a grade and job done
….yeah. About the grading.
leave the dirt roads as they are .if they seal the roads at huge cost and ongoing repair it will have people flocking to these outback places in big numbers and the comunities can not handle big crowds ,they are not ready and it will take years for them to ajust .
Great announcement! Will be so much better and quicker to get to Qld and not having to go across the top.
I know it will help the towns and transport in wet weather and the road takes a lot out of the vehicles and I’m being selfish but it takes the adventure out of the outback road trips and I will miss it
Thank God I’ve done most of them
Hey Grumpy if you don’t like the tar, DRIVE ALONG SIDE IT.
We loved our adventure travelling and locals we meet on Great Central Road (Australia’s longest shortcut) this year between Laverton and Tata Tjuta. In 2023 we plan to complete between Alice Springs and Boulia on Plenty hwy then Walkers Crossing to Innamincka.
Brilliant. Not everyone wants to be breathing in bulldust.
Yes doing these roads as dirt is an adventure and to a degree we do lose something with sealing them, but the advantages of a good all weather road far out weighs the losses that some of us may feel.
The benefit to both the local communities and the transport industry alone is worth the outlay, and the tourist dollars that this will encourage into the outback will be of great benefit.
I have travelled many of these roads over the years, but look forward to doing them again when there is some nice smooth blacķtop in place.
not only is this a ood final outcome but they also should do a rali line from mt alice springs to w.a instead of going across the nullabor
Bonza news dirt roads and touring are a nightmare
Finally.. My kids will enjoy the completion by 2025. Wombi
I recently successfully completed the Laverton/Kata Tjuta section in a converted Toyota Commuter campervan. It was a real Adventure for me – however, I feel it will lose so much of its “iconic” significance once it is sealed. Having said that, I guess there are some iconic roads I have not been able to drive, which, when sealed, I will.
Fabulous idea and why not Cape York too. I won’t take my semi off road van along these tracks at the moment but you snot hold be back f those roads are sealed.
Good stuff. However, Highway 1 from Borroloola to outback far northwest QLD is unsealed. It is listed as highway 1 and so it should be done too!