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Volume 14, Thursday, April 20, 2017
Link road support grows
WRITTEN BY AMANDA HUDSON
S
upport is growing for a new road linking the Borefield Road directly to Andamooka, throwing a vital lifeline to the small historic outback town.
A petition organised earlier this year by the Andamooka Progress and Opal Miners Association (APOMA), to be presented to government decision makers, has already gathered more than 700 signatures. And while the idea of a road enabling tourist traffic to travel directly to Andamooka from the Borefield Road is not new, now – more than ever – is the right time to push for its creation, its supporters say. “The actual concept started twenty-odd years ago,” an APOMA spokesperson said. “We’ve been promised it several times by different government ministers, but the road-
blocks have probably been unidentified. “It came up again with the BHP Billiton expansion when there was going to be a short road put across near Hiltaba Village, potentially for public access … but it’s always fallen off the radar and never gained the traction that it should have.” A link road would have multiple benefits to Andamooka, which has suffered a downturn since the Olympic Dam expansion was halted in 2012. The key opportunity, supporters say, would be enabling traffic to travel directly to Andamooka rather than having to follow the Borefield Road down towards Roxby Downs, and then take a separate route back up to Andamooka. This would effectively create a ring route back to the Roxby Downs township without travellers having to drive through the section of the Borefield Road used for mining operations.
The suggested route (believed to be between 20-30km in length) would turn off the Borefield Road almost opposite the entry to Arid Recovery, travel over Andamooka Station and come out just north of the Andamooka township. There is already a rough 4WD track in place. Once in Andamooka, APOMA says there are many attractions to encourage visitors to stop and inject some vital funds into the town. “We have created a great place for visitors to stay from a bare camping ground and we have stimulated increased awareness, interest and visitation so we need to build on this to enhance the visitor experience for this part of the region,” the APOMA spokesperson said. “We are working to develop our tourist industry to make Andamooka sustainable and able to survive on its own two feet. “We’ve got a lot to see here too in terms of natural views, we’ve got White Dam, we’ve got Lake Torrens to experience before they
continue on their way. “All we’re asking for is an unsealed road to go from the Borefield Road to Andamooka, and what it does is create a tourist route right alongside Arid Recovery and also to and from that amazing regional attraction for those that visit Andamooka from the south.” APOMA representatives most recently raised the link road proposal at the South Australian Government’s Country Cabinet visit to Andamooka in November, as part of a wider tour which included stops in Roxby Downs, Whyalla and Coober Pedy. “We had a meeting with Jay Weatherill, Tom Koutsantonis, and Eddie Hughes. Geoff Brock actually came here to Andamooka the next day,” the APOMA spokesperson said. “They were going to assist us in helping to do a feasibility study into the road, but there has been no response as yet.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Arid Recovery milestone
Arid Recovery’s past and present staff, volunteers, supporters and their families gathered to celebrate the local conservation icon’s 20th birthday at the weekend. PHOTO: Travis Hague
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MORE PHOTOS, STORY - PAGE 5
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