Published on Monday, 10 July 2023 at 11:22:35 AM
10 July 2023
Media Release
Submission for Sealing the Goldfields Highway
The Shire Presidents of Meekatharra and Wiluna continue to lobby the WA State Government to support the complete sealing of the remaining 124 km of unsealed road between Wiluna and Meekatharra.
Following the presentation of the final Petition to the WA Parliament Legislative Council by the Shire’s of Meekatharra and Wiluna in early March this year, the Shire’s made a formal written submission to the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs. This written submission highlighted the Shire’s ongoing concerns and the reasons for making the original petition. Submissions have also been made by the Tabling Member of the Petition, the Hon Colin de Grussa MLC, the Minister for Transport; Planning and Ports, the Hon Rita Saffioti MLA and the Minister for Training; Water and Youth the Hon Simone McGurk MLA.
The submissions by both Ministers recognize the increased use of the road by heavy vehicles due to increased mining activity and the impact this increased use is having on the unsealed section of the road network. In doing so, they also acknowledge that the condition of the unsealed section of the road is rapidly deteriorating due to this increased heavy vehicle usage.
In their submissions, both Ministers have also confirmed a key objective of the funding allocated to date has been to create and sustain employment and
training opportunities for local Indigenous people with the Minister for Transport stating that this approach will be applied to the next 5 km scheduled for later this year. This still leaves over one hundred kms to seal with no confirmation when this remaining section will be sealed!
While the Shire’s of Meekatharra and Wiluna greatly support the concept promoted by both Minister’s to engage the local indigenous population that will provide employment and training opportunities, we question why this concept cannot be applied to sealing the entire 124 kms of the road network. This would surely provide long term employment and training security and sustainability, as opposed to only providing short term employment and training opportunities in approx. 5 km increments? Sealing of the entire remaining section of the road network would provide approximately 4 to 5 months meaningful and continual engagement as opposed to short term projects of 4 to 5 weeks. These submissions can be viewed at;
https://parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/commit.nsf/Committees
Both Shire Presidents of Meekatharra and Wiluna therefore ask the question ‘why the project cannot be entirely completed that would surely provide more benefits to the local indigenous community, as well as the tourism, mining and freight industry alike?’
Cr Harvey Nichols Cr Peter Grundy
Shire President Shire President
Shire of Meekatharra Shire of Wiluna
Contact: Kelvin Matthews Chief Executive Officer - Meekatharra 0417 989076
Gary Gaffney Chief Executive Officer - Wiluna 0417141877
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