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OHDC INC BULLETIN - JULY 2010 |
SEALED OUTBACK HIGHWAY BY 2020
JULY 16 the Outback Highway Development Inc (OHDC) has called for the Mt Isa Townsville Economic Zone Inc, the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission and the NT, WA and Queensland RDAs through which the 2800 klm road travels to be part of the big picture for Australia and support the sealing of the Outback Highway
The Outback Highway is a 2,800km route linking Perth, WA to Cairns in Queensland via Laverton, Warburton, Alice Springs, Boulia and Winton.
The Outback Highway Development Council Inc (OHDC) has been working since 1997 to have the road upgraded and its success has seen over $20 million in funding from State, Federal and Local Governments toward upgrading the road and road use increase by 20 per cent. Tourism funding has also seen the development of the world’s longest geo-cache trail on the Outback Way, a HEMA guide book/Atlas for the Outback Way, interpretive panels and commencement in the development of indigenous tourism experiences along the route.
As a tourism link the road is known as the Outback Way and Australia’s Longest Shortcut but as an infrastructure link the Outback Way is the Central Transcontinental Route Across Australia and essential to providing food, health and education services to communities (especially indigenous) and a transport route for mining and pastoral industries. The route provides a land-link between the ports of Fremantle, Darwin, Cairns/ Townsville/Mackay/Gladstone/Brisbane and Adelaide/ Port Augusta. It is the shortest route between the east and west by 1600 klms and is set to provide productivity improvements for Australian goods for local and export markets. However, only 1100 klms of the Highway is sealed. OHDC is working with Local, State, Territory and the Federal Governments to encourage the upgrading of the highway to a sealed national standard and in 2008 submitted the project to Infrastructure Australia for funding consideration as a Nation Building Project.
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In conjunction with the Australian Local Government Association's National Road Congress in Bunbury over October 13-15, OHDC is asking participants to join the seven OHDC Councils in a tagalong tour on the Outback Highway.
Experience the road first hand, try out your 4WD vehicle and learn about Australia's Road Infrastructure. The tour commences in Longreach and you can join us at Longreach (October 5), Winton (October 6), Boulia (October 7), Alice Springs (Depart Yulara October 9), Warburton (October 10) and Kalgoorlie (October 12).
The road is driveable after recent grading and the GM drove the 2500klm to Perth alone in June in a Nissan Pathfinder!! So come along learn more about roads, your vehicle and see Australia's Outback.
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In 2008 The OHDC Inc successfully completed its $487,390 integrated tourism project funded by the Australian Government through AusIndustry. delivering Australia’s Longest Shortcut.
The Integrated Tourism plan audited the gaps and the implementation phase delivered improved signage with interpretive panels and approach signs, a new website and brochure, and the Outback Way Atlas and guidebook published by HEMA Maps providing extensive information about the Outback Way, which not only improves the safety and comfort for those experiencing ‘Australia’s Longest Shortcut’ but provides detail on how to plan the trip and what you will encounter. Over 1500 Atlases have already been sold.
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The Outback Way extends 2,750km from Laverton, Western Australia to Winton, Queensland via central Australia. As a self-drive route it passes through central Australia’s deserts, Ayers Rock, The Olga’s, Alice Springs and a host of fascinating places of interest.
The Outback Way is made up of seven inter-connecting roads including The Great Central Road (WA); Tjukaruru Road, Lasseter Highway, Stuart Highway and Plenty Highway (NT); and Donohue Highway and Min Min Byway (QLD). Collectively these are THE OUTBACK WAY.
There are very few road signs in outback Australia and many of the Outback Way’s places of interest are sometimes not so easy to find. Then again, it wouldn’t be an outback adventure without an element of surprise! The adventurous traveller has plenty to discover, and the less adventurous traveller can safely prepare their outback journey using this website, the brochure and the Guidebook!
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The Outback Way is unofficially Australia’s longest shortcut. But that doesn’t mean there’s little to see or do. The Outback Way brochure lists plenty of activities and attractions ( download here 2.42MB pdf ) and is a first-stop for any traveller planning a trip via Australia’s longest shortcut.
The brochure will reveal that driving styles, places of interest, side trip options and accommodation preferences need to be considered in preparing for one of life’s greatest self-drive adventures. The brochure is available from visitor centres, shire offices, selected outlets along the Outback Way, inquiring online or downloaded from this site.
The Outback Way brochure states that Giles Weather Station releases weather balloons at 9am & 4pm daily. This is incorrect. Giles Weather station works on South Australian time [CST]. Weather balloons are released at 8:45am & 2:45pm (CST) each day during winter [balloon release times during daylight saving are 9:45am & 3:45pm CDST] . The Station offers tours which start at 8:30am & 2:30pm (9:30am & 3:30pm during daylight saving].
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The Outback Highway Atlas - a real guidebook |
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There is a range of information available on this website and in the brochure, however, travellers will find much more information in the Outback Way Atlas and Guidebook. The Guidebook includes detailed maps, commentary, pre-trip planning tools and enroute information that helps travellers experience the very best of the Outback Way. A good travelling companion It is written in a style that older children can read en-route.
Traveller’s can purchase the Atlas from visitor-discovery centres along the Outback Way as well as map shops, book stores and outdoor-lifestyle stores or wherever Hema Maps are sold. An order form is available in the downloads section of this site.
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