Nearly 350km of NT highway still closed months after flood damage

A significant stretch of the Sandover Highway in Australia's Northern Territory, measuring nearly 350 kilometers, remains impassable due to flood damage sustained months ago during the wet season. The road, which connects Ammaroo cattle station to the Queensland border, has seen no repair work initiated, causing considerable disruption.

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It hasn't been touched at all this year, and it's basically impassable.

Stewart Weir, owner of Ammaroo Station, highlighted the severe impact on his business, stating that cattle trucks are forced to take extensive detours. He expressed frustration that the road has not even received basic grading, deeming the lack of action "not good enough." Weir emphasized the highway's importance as a vital route for multiple cattle stations and remote Aboriginal communities, underscoring the difficulties faced by locals traveling the damaged road.

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That road has not even had an opening grade, or anything on it, which personally I don't think is good enough.

The Northern Territory government established a $100 million flood recovery fund, but only $12.5 million has been allocated to specific projects, including flood mitigation in Katherine and Alice Springs, and planning for the relocation of Daly River. A separate $30.5 million road repair package was announced and reportedly fully spent.

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It's not good for the region. The locals travel a lot between Ammaroo, (the community of) Utopia, Lake Nash Station etc.

Industry representatives, like Romy Carey, chief executive of the NT Cattlemen's Association, are frustrated by the uncertainty and the slow allocation of funds. Carey stressed the urgency of getting money onto the roads before the next wet season arrives, noting that road access is a critical issue for the cattle industry. While the NT minister responsible for the fund is in negotiations for potential federal funding partnerships, a federal spokesperson stated that further negotiation is unnecessary and funds could be accessed through existing Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

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We need to see that money out on the roads now, time is ticking, the wet season will be here before we know it.