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Canberra seeks proposals for beef roads project

Results of the stakeholder discussion findings will be presented in the coming months

 

The federal government is inviting project submissions from relevant jurisdictions following the conclusion of its stakeholder consultation phase that discussed specific upgrades on key roads used for transporting cattle in northern Australia.

Speaking at the last consultation forum in Darwin, infrastructure and transport minister Darren Chester says the findings of the meetings will be presented in the coming months.

“Today marks the third and final consultation and I look forward to the presentation of findings from the CSIRO’s TRaNSIT modelling of stakeholder priorities, which has analysed the benefits to the movement of cattle of potential projects,” Chester says.

“This consultation process is a valuable opportunity for the government to draw on local and on-the-ground expertise in identifying priority projects.

“Today’s roundtable will provide the chance to discuss the prioritisation of proposed projects, ranging from the sealing of unsealed roads to upgrading roads, bridges and key intersections, according to the TraNSIT analysis.”

The ministers announced that the government is now seeking project submissions from various parties.”Projects will be assessed on their capacity to improve the reliability, productivity and resilience of cattle supply chains in northern Australia, reducing freight costs and better connecting industry to markets.

The successful projects under the program are expected to be announced from mid-year onwards.

The Beef Roads forum invited various stakeholders – from the transport and cattle industries to local and state governments – to present their road infrastructure priorities, Chester says.

In addition to the Beef Roads Programme, the federal government is investing $600 million towards the Northern Australia Roads Programme.

The Northern Australia region, which covers parts of Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, provides 90 per cent of Australian cattle exports, worth around $3 billion a year.

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