$12m infrastructure boost for Barkly, NT
The Northern Territory’s Barkly region is set to receive $12 million in infrastructure funding having now been pinpointed by the Government for assistance with growth.
The funding boost in the 2012 budget comes under the ‘growing the Territory’ initiative and is in response to the area increasingly becoming an important traffic route, according to member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy.
“Barkly roads are important traffic routes for our trucking industry, local families and tourists and the Territory Government significant investment will spend improving flood immunity, safety and general condition for Barkly road users,” Mr McCarthy said.
The funding includes $170,000 for improved drainage along the Stuart Highway near Elliott, and $6.74 million of repairs and maintenance across the entire road network of Barkly.
An additional $3.4 million of maintenance will also be dedicated to the region to help fuel growth, Mr McCarthy said.
The Barkly highway, funded outside of the latest $12 million addition, is also undergoing improvements to the tune of $16 million.
This includes the strengthening and widening of 20km of the highway from Avon Downs to the Queensland border.