Upgrades for Kimberly roads

Gibb River Road Train

WA project a crucial boost for critical minerals sector

The nation’s critical minerals sector will be boosted by a Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) loan to develop one of the world’s largest minerals sands project in Western Australia.

A NAIF loan of up to $150 million has been approved for the Strandline Resources, Coburn Heavy Mineral Sands Project, north of Geraldton.

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said the project would provide jobs and investment for the nation’s resources sector and increase economic activity in the region.

“The project is expected to benefit the local region to the tune of $922 million over 25 years and could create up to 315 jobs during the construction phase and up to 190 jobs during the operations phase,” Minister Pitt said.

“It’s also going to be a shot in the arm for our critical minerals sector, with products from the development to be used in items like ceramic tiles, refractory, paint, titanium metal and welding rod applications.”

Minister Pitt said the Coburn project was one of a range of resources projects that NAIF had approved which would provide an extra boost to the Government’s Critical Minerals agenda.

NAIF has so far approved loans to a range of resource projects, across the iron ore, bauxite and potash sectors.

In addition to providing equipment and other resources, the NAIF funding will also help fund an alternative access road for resident in the town of Denham, who are working at the project.

First production is expected within 18 months of the start of project construction. T ransport Minister Rita Saffioti was in the Kimberley region in August to view progress on a number of road infrastructure projects currently underway. The collection of projects will improve safety and efficiency across the Kimberley region's road network, while providing certainty for local businesses and creating hundreds of local jobs.

The recently secured funding partnership with the Australian Government to boost the Regional Road Safety Improvement Program, will see over 100 kilometres of Great Northern Highway upgraded across the region.

Works will begin in September with $12 million from the program allocated towards widening, shoulder sealing and audible edge line installation on five separate sections of the highway, including the section directly south of Broome Road.

Other road projects currently underway or planned in the Kimberley region include: • $65.66 million Broome Cape Leveque Road Project:

Works to construct and seal the last remaining section of red dirt road between Broome and One Arm Point commenced in 2018 with 32 kilometres of new road now open to traffic, and the remaining 58 kilometres expected to open by the end of 2020. • $98.14 million Great Northern Highway Ord River

North Project: 18 kilometres of upgrade works are planned to be undertaken in 2021 and 2022, including widening, overlay, reconstruction and realignment works and replacement of Tickalara and Frog Hollow Bridges.

Eight kilometres of widening, overlay, reconstruction and realignment works were completed in 2019. • Gibb River Road Upgrade: Works continue to improve and seal targeted high priority sections of the 647 kilometre

Gibb River Road between Derby and Wyndham. Works in 2020 include $8.5 million to upgrade and seal the remaining 27 kilometre unsealed section of road between Derby and

Windjana Gorge and the 25 kilometre unsealed section between El Questro and the Pentecost River. • $25.9 million Great Northern Highway - Broome to

Derby Upgrade: Currently in development, the project will see two sections of Great Northern Highway upgraded. A 15 kilometre section at Deep Creek is due to commence in 2021, and reconstruction of a further 15 kilometres at Logue River is planned for 2022. • $51 million Duncan/Gordon Downs Road Upgrade:

Upgrades to two local roads in partnership with Shire of

Halls Creek. Once completed, the upgrades will provide access to the community at Ringers Soak and Northern

Minerals Browns Range heavy earth minerals mine, approximately 160 kilometres south-east of Halls Creek. The project commenced in 2019 and is due for completion in 2022. • $42.75 million Tanami Road Upgrade: Currently in development, Main Roads is working with the Northern

Territory and the Shire of Halls Creek to define the scope, priorities, and the overall upgrading strategy for this new east-west link into the State. The 311 kilometre section in

WA, is unsealed and is owned of the Shire of Halls Creek.

Construction on the first 20 kilometre section near Halls

Creek is anticipated to commence in 2022.