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OHDC INC BULLETIN – MARCH 2010 |
UPGRADING A 2.53 POSITIVE STEP
The roads comprising the "Outback Highway" feature various grading conditions. Since 1997 OHDC has been successful in gaining Government's attention and winning funding for upgrading the condition of the road. The OHDC Inc has successfully spent $20million of previous funding under Roads to Recovery strategic component improving 170km of the 1700km that needs improving - we have taken roads that were 1.5m below ground surface and built them up to a grade 3 all weather gravel road, some wash out areas have been black topped. However, recent floods may have damaged much of this work.
In October 2008 OHDC submitted the upgrading of the Outback Highway to a consistent standard to Infrastructure Australia as a response to the Federal Government's call for Nation Building Projects. On January 27 this year, an updated analysis supporting the further upgrading to a sealed standard was provided to the Federal Treasury for pre-budget consideration.
Sealing the road will provide a vital and essential link for communities (especially indigenous), mining, agriculture and tourism and will significantly reduce the travel time between Queensland ports; Central Australia and Perth; and, WA Ports. Research shows that over other routes the Outback Highway shortens the travel distances between the Alice Springs area and all Queensland regions to Brisbane up to 500 klms and to Perth by about 1100klms.
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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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Travelling the outback raises as many questions as it answers. Explorers have been fascinated by its appeal for centuries. The Outback Way has thirty-one interpretive panels at places of interest, roadhouses and major stopovers to enlighten travellers as their journey unfolds. Each panel provides a unique insight to a local, natural, cultural or scientific story that might otherwise have gone untold. The panels also provide travellers with an opportunity to stop, revive and survive and to help ensure they arrive safely and enlightened! Large approach signs will be installed adjacent to each interpetive site so that travellers can safely slow down and pull over to view each site.
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