The Australian Government’s 10-year, $3.5 billion Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative will see $1.5 billion invested in key northern Australian roads, according to Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack.
Mr McCormack said the money was earmarked for key corridors across northern Australia to improve road reliability, connectivity across supply chains for key agricultural and mining regions, and better connected communities.
“Investment in these strategic corridors will further support regional economic growth across northern Australia by helping support the expansion of key local industries by building capacity, and improving access and safety on these key roads.”
“The $1.5 billion Northern Australia ROSI will deliver upgrades to key corridors across Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to support major freight movements and better connect businesses to markets and export facilities,” Mr McCormack said.
Northern-based Senator Ian Macdonald said the ROSI would build upon the benefits already being delivered through the Government’s Northern Australia Roads of Priority Program and Northern Australia Beef Roads Program, both Northern Australia White paper initiatives.
“In coming weeks a series of roundtables will be held where the Minister for Roads, the Minister for Northern Australia, and I will meet with local stakeholders from across the North as part of a wide consultation process,” Senator Macdonald said.
“The Queensland roundtable will be held in Townsville on October 31. This will follow the Western Australian roundtable in Broome on the 29th and the Northern Territory roundtable in Darwin on the 30th.”
