ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE
ADVANCE CAIRNS PRIORITIES 2021/22
SAVANNAH WAY (GULF SECTION) COUNCIL: BURKE, CARPENTARIA, DOOMADGEE, ETHERIDGE, CROYDON STATE ELECTORATE: TRAEGER FEDERAL ELECTORATE: KENNEDY
THE ISSUE The Savannah Way traverses Northern Australia, linking Cairns in Tropical North Queensland to Broome in Western Australia’s Kimberley. The route is approximately 3700km long, crossing 15 National Parks and five World Heritage areas as it traverses across the Top End. Considered to be in the top 10 road trips of Australia, the self-drive tourism market delivers $69.8 million annually into the Gulf region, with 38% of visitors starting the journey in Cairns1. The Gulf section of the Savannah Way takes in 888km from Forty Mile Scrub west of Mt Garnet to the Northern Territory border, with significant sections of the road already sealed. However there are critical missing links that
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ADVANCE CAIRNS STATE BUDGET SUBMISSION
require pavement upgrades, bitumen seal, minor realignment of substandard curves, concrete causeways and four major river crossings. As sections of the Savannah Way remain unsealed and flood prone, communities become isolated during the annual wet season which limits the economic value of this northern road link. Upgrading the Gulf section of the Savannah Way will require replacing existing substandard infrastructure. Upgrading the Savannah Way aligns well with the Federal Government’s Northern Australia agenda, given the road is a key which links Cairns in tropical north QLD to Broome in north west WA.
BRIEFING NOTE SUMMARY • The Savannah Way stretches for 3,700 km and is considered to be one of the top 10 Great Australian Drives, linking Cairns in Tropical North Queensland to Broome in Western Australia’s Kimberley. • Drive tourism delivers $69.8 million into the Gulf region annually, with 38% of visitors entering the Savannah Way via Cairns. • Segments of the Queensland section of the Savannah Way are unsealed and flood prone, isolating communities during the wet season and limiting the economic value of this northern road link. • Sealing the Queensland section of the Savannah Way is estimated to require a total investment of $39.8 million annually over 10 years, split 80:20 between the State and Federal Governments. 1 Keirle, P, (2018) Gulf Savannah Way Tourism Survey Report, Gulf Savannah Devlopment
