Tanami Road Update
We’ve completed the first seal on Tanami Road, with six kilometres of road now open to traffic!
Published: 04 December 2023, Updated: 04 December 2023
This is a significant milestone for Main Roads’ Kimberley Region and the local community, who have been actively engaged on the project since 2019.
The project is providing long-term employment benefits for local contractors, workers and suppliers, paving the way their for future involvement in other works in the region.
Earthworks are moving at steady pace. Water bores and borrow pits have been established and nearly 500,000 tonnes of material has been placed to form the embankment and sub-grade, taking out the dip and crests and several sharp bends that were in the old road.
A combination of 14 reinforced concrete box culverts and 27 corrugated steel pipes culverts have been installed and it’s pleasing to see that a majority of the culvert crew is being supplied by a new, 100% owned Jaru Aboriginal business.
The first section of Tanami Road now sealed
Jaru Traditional Owners Jeremey Manning and Kenneth Martin from Manno’s Machinery live locally on the land where the Tanami Road Project begins. Jeremy and Kenneth were quick to spot the opportunity that Tanami Road presented and set about building an experienced workforce by advertising Australia-wide. They also recruited locally (in Kununurra and Halls Creek) for Aboriginal carpenters and trade assistants.
Two labourers from the remote Aboriginal communities of Balgo and Bililuna have been engaged on the project to gain experience alongside the crew. The team at Manno Machinery are hoping to use this opportunity to learn from the experience brought in, to further develop their business.
The project has a strong environmental focus, with significant effort to stop weed dispersal along the road. Zones have been identified and set up along the road and mobile machinery is being washed down when moving between zones.
Cultural and heritage approvals have been granted by the Jaru traditional owners, with negotiations to commence with Tjurabalan traditional owners in 2024.
Of the 112,206 hours currently worked on the project, 58,144 hours (52%) have been worked by Aboriginal people. The local Aboriginal workforce makes up 50% of this total Aboriginal workforce - meeting or exceeding Main Roads’ set targets.
The Australian Government and Western Australian State Governments have committed a total of $542.75 million towards sealing the 313-kilometre Western Australian section of Tanami Road over the next ten years. To find out more visit Tanami Road.
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