MEEKATHARRA–WILUNA ROAD — SEALING
500. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the
Minister for Lands:
(1) Can the minister point to a budget
line item related to the sealing of the Wiluna–Meekatharra road?
(2) If no to (1), what plan does the
government have for sealing the road?
(3) Will the
minister confirm that successive Western Australian governments have failed to
seal the road in the 62 years since the closure of the Wiluna–Meekatharra
rail line?
(4) What studies have been conducted
on the costs and benefits of sealing the Wiluna–Meekatharra road?
(5) Is the minister able to table
such studies?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) The
McGowan government recognises the importance of the Wiluna–Meekatharra
road as a key transport link between the northern goldfields and the midwest,
Gascoyne and Pilbara regions. Earlier this month, the Minister for Transport
met with the Shire of Wiluna where a proposition was presented to undertake a pilot
project to seal the initial four kilometres of the road leading out from the
Wiluna town site. This would then connect to
an existing 10-kilometre section of sealed road that finishes approximately 15
kilometres west of the town. This project would be undertaken using a direct
management delivery model, which would help promote regional growth through the
provision of employment, training and business opportunities for the local
Aboriginal community. Discussions are underway in relation to this proposal.