Print Email

Shire of East Pilbara seeks Newman to Nullagine road revamp

A Pilbara shire says a gravel road being used by the mining industry is in urgent need of repair.

The road from Newman to Nullagine is becoming severely corrugated due to traffic to and from exploration and mining camps owned by Hancock Prospecting, Fortescue Metals Group and Wedgetail Exploration.

The chief executive of the Shire of East Pilbara, Allen Cooper, says the road needs to be re-sheeted or sealed.

Mr Cooper says the State Government may be negotiating with mining companies over costs, but Main Roads needs to spend money on it now.

"Up to the Jigalong turn-off it's a fairly flat area which could be sealed or upgraded significantly to make it an all-weather road fairly quickly by the State Government," he said.

"It's a boom time up here and they're benefiting from enormous royalties coming out of the Pilbara - we want to see some money back."

The Fortescue Metals Group says it is negotiating with the shire and State Government about the need to maintain the road.

The aspiring iron ore exporter is building a mine in the Chichester Ranges north-west of Newman.

A spokesman for Fortescue, Graeme Rowley, says even when the construction of the railway and airstrip is finished, the road will still be heavily used.

"We will still need an effective communication, road communication route through to the camp, and the Nullagine Road from Newman will be the main entry to the camp," he said.

Print Email