The Cairns Post

Mereenie left out of the loop

Rebecca Lollback

09May08

THE future of the Mereenie Loop is in doubt after the Territory Government failed to allocate money to finish the tourism project in this year's Budget.

Sections of the loop - now called The Red Centre Way - to the west of Glen Helen and back to Hermannsburg, have already been sealed.

But negotiations for the section from Ipolera to Kings Canyon, which goes through the Haasts Bluff Land Trust, have stalled.

Treasurer Delia Lawrie last night admitted there was money in reserves to continue the project.

But she said the Territory Government was still in talks with the Central Land Council about access to the gravel resources, and proposed realignments, which impact on Aboriginal land.

CLC spokeswoman Jane Hodson said Ms Lawrie should stop taking ``cheap shots''.

She said: ``The Northern Territory Government needs to stop burying its head in the sand and just come and talk to the Land Council about this.''

Sealing of the 270km Mereenie Loop has been seven years in the making, with a completion date still out of reach.

It has previously been described as the single most important infrastructure project in Central Australia and is expected to attract thousands of extra tourists.

The Mereenie Loop has also been the site of several serious car accidents. Sealing the road could help reduce these tragic statistics.

Last month six tourists rolled their vehicle about 53km north of Kings Canyon. One woman had to have intensive care at Alice Springs Hospital.

The Department of Planning and Infrastructure has a contract for 48km of roadworks on Namatjira Drive. So far the contractor, Ostojic, has sealed 21km.

Ostojic spokesman Martin Bennett said the CLC had, in the past, refused access to gravel pits.

He said: ``However as part of the ongoing negotiations, the Central Land Council has recently approved access to two gravel pits to enable works to continue on Namatjira Drive.

But Mr Bennett confirmed the department was ``still negotiating'' with the CLC to finalise an agreement to upgrade Larapinta Drive through the Haasts Bluff Land Trust.