Almost 50 people attended in person or dialled into the Cape York Region Package taskforce update in Weipa on 6 May. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
Local communities having the ability to choose which Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) upgrades should be prioritised with available funding was mooted when almost 50 people attended a Cape York Region Package (CYRP) taskforce update in Weipa on 6 May.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) provided an update on stage two of the CYRP at the meeting, and identified three designed and funded projects yet to commence, including Musgrave to Red Blanket (4.5 kilometres), Yarraden to Three Sisters (9.49km) and a 4.9km stretch from Bamboo to south of Duck Holes.
While the Federal Government is yet to commit the $240 million needed as part of an 80:20 joint funding arrangement to progress stage three of the CYRP, incoming Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith, who dialled into the meeting before heading to Canberra, said he wanted to make it a priority and compared the future success of Cape York to that of the Roman empire and its road network.
“It’s the first conversation we can have (in Canberra),” he told the meeting.
CYRP taskforce co-chair Professor Allan Dale said solving the funding conundrum hinged on the region “arguing the value story” and what the PDR and linking community access roads meant for the social and economic wellbeing of Cape York.
“Twenty thousand people doesn’t cut it when it comes to budgets,” he said.
“I’ve always thought the Bruce Highway … finishes at Weipa.”
Member for Cook David Kempton told the meeting Cape York needed to prepare for a fight to ensure the PDR remained on the funding radar of both state and federal governments.
“If we want to get this road sealed, we’re going to have to make a case for it, and we’re going to have to fight for it.”
Choosing what remaining stretches of dirt should be prioritised when the $300m stage three does get the green light split the audience, with consensus different communities would have conflicting demands dependent on the how unsealed sections of the PDR impacted their daily lives.
Coen was used as an example of why the southern end of the PDR should be prioritised, with road freight alternatives unavailable and emergency resupplies during the wet season costing $70,000 each.
Attendees discussed the feasibility of TMR presenting communities with road and bridge upgrade options possible with the available funding to prioritise projects and maximise “bang for buck” for the region.
TMR Far North district director Darryl Jones said he believed the stage three priority should be to “maximise the bitumen seal as much as possible”, adding the long-awaited upgrade of the Myall Creek bridge should be at the top of the list for bridge infrastructure works.
