What's happening
Work recommenced in May, and will continue until later in the year (weather permitting). Many local contractors have returned to the site after working on other Main Roads projects during 2021.
Initial priority work includes constructing side-tracks, stockpiling material and preparing water supplies for the project.
Read more in the latest Project Update.
Local roads Duncan Road and Gordon Downs Road are the main links between Halls Creek and the Yaruman (Ringer Soak) community. They also provide access to cattle stations and the Browns Range Rare Earths Project.
Upgrades include improving the road quality and drainage, sealing some sections and constructing and sealing floodways. This work will reduce road closures during wet season, providing better access to the Yaruman Community.
The project is being directly managed by Main Roads in partnership with the Shire of Halls Creek.Gordon Downs Road
Completed work
- 37.8 km of gravel sheeting on blacksoil plains.
- Installation of 33 culverts.
- Upgrading and sealing of 3 floodways.
- Construction and sealing of Sturt Creek Floodway crossing (3.2 kms long).
- Upgrading 7 cattle grids.
- Seal road approaches into Yaruman (Ringer Soak) including minor side road.
- Construct side-tracks.
Duncan Road
Current and planned work
- Install culverts and seal floodways
- Upgrade concrete floodways at major rivers.
- Road widening and alignment improvements to cater for road trains.
- Completion of geometry improvements through the hills section to improve line-of-sight.
- Form drainage and gravel sheet various section.
- Seal various high maintenance sections including jump ups.
Completed work
- raising, widening and gravel sheeting of the road formation on black soil plains;
- installation of pipe and box culverts at various locations including some major creeks;
- construction and sealing of cement stabilised floodways, including the 3.2 km Sturt Creek crossing floodway; and
- installation of grids and sealing the approaches;
- seal road approaches into Yaruman (Ringer Soak) including minor side road;
- construction of side-tracks.
- October 2019: Main Roads started on the project, using the Shire of Halls Creek historic clearances practices.
- Early-2020: We formed a partnership with the Shire and finalised a Heritage Protection Agreement (HPA).
- July 2020: A Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony was held by traditional Jaru owners at Sturt Creek. Attendees included representatives from the Shire of Halls Creek, Yaruman (Ringer Soak) Community and the project team.
- December 2020: Heritage surveys were cancelled due to wet weather.
- October/November 2021: Jaru family groups undertook heritage surveys providing the opportunity for traditional owners to discuss their areas of concern from a local Aboriginal perspective and provide feedback. Jaru traditional owners confirmed sensitive areas to avoid and highlighted the importance of rehabilitating materials sites. Input from traditional owners has been invaluable and will feed into finalising an improved design with better project outcomes.
In July 2021, information sessions were held in Yaruman (Ringer Soak) community and Halls Creek to provide an update on the project and gather feedback. Read more in the Project Update.
Aboriginal opportunities
We are committed to creating opportunities for Aboriginal peoples and businesses with a 36 per cent employment rate on the project. We continue to collaborate with East Kimberley Job Pathways and Djaringo to provide training and support to take up project opportunities.
Project Updates
- Project Update - July 2022 - PDF (872 KB)
- Project Update - July 2021 - PDF (1.92 MB)
- Project Update - November 2020 - PDF (929 KB)
Funding
$51 million ($40.8 m Australian Government, $10.1 m State Government)
Improve efficiency of freight movements
delays caused by road closures in wet season
access to critical services and employment