Working party set up to progress planning of Outback Highway being set up

18/11/96

A working party is being set up to progress the planning of the Outback Highway through Laverton, Alice Springs and Winton in Queensland.

At a meeting of Transport Ministers in Darwin on Friday, Western Australia's Transport Minister Eric Charlton had talks with the Northern Territory Minister and a representative of the Queensland Transport Minister about the highway.

"We have agreed that a working party will be set up to look at the planning that needs to be done for the highway," Mr Charlton said.

"This will include how and when the highway will proceed, as well as issues involved with its funding."

The Minister said there were several stages of the highway already in place as part of the normal road building program of the States and Territory.

"The completion of the highway will give people a choice once they get to Winton and to Laverton to travel either north or south," he said.

"This will encourage more tourists into these areas and provide a boost to development in towns along the way. It will also open up these areas."

The setting up of a working party follows on from meetings Mr Charton had recently with the representatives of the Laverton and Ngaanyatjarraku shire councils when he toured a 315km section of the road.

It is 2,000kms from Laverton to Winton.

Media contact: Sally Squires 321 7333