A $28 million venture to upgrade Paru Road on Melville Island has reached a major milestone with the completion of a new bridge over Paru Creek.
The contract includes upgrading and sealing approximately nine kilometres of Paru Road which will finalise the project from the Paru barge landing to the Threeways intersection.
Over half the roadworks, which began in April, have been completed. Construction will resume next dry season.
Works are being carried out by Tiwi Partners which is partnership between the Tiwi Islands Equity Holders and Sitzler. The construction team includes 16 Aboriginal employees, with Tiwi Partners committed to engaging apprentices and trainees for construction works next year.
The project is part of a $75 million Tiwi Islands roads upgrades program, which includes works on the Pickertaramoor and Pirlangimpi access roads.
The Tiwi Islands Roads Upgrades Program is jointly funded by the Northern Territory and Australian governments.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Logistics Joel Bowden:
"The Territory Labor Government's investment in better roads across the Tiwi Islands will help to connect communities, and address access and safety issues, and improve flood immunity.
"This project will boost the economic and social potential of both Bathurst and Melville islands well into the future."
"While there are always logistical challenges in delivering major works to remote areas, especially in the tropical north, Tiwi Partners has done an excellent job of completing the bridge and a significant part of the roadworks in time for the onset of the wet season when travel becomes more difficult."
Quotes attributable to Member for Arafura Manuel Brown:
"This bridge over Paru Creek is a gamechanger for the Tiwi Islands in terms of improving accessibility, especially during the wet season.
"It's good to see the roadworks are well underway too, as this will mean people can get on with business, and travel across the Apsley Strait year-round.
"Culturally, it is important that there is connectivity between Bathurst and Melville islands and that's why this roads project is so crucial to the Tiwi communities."
