The State Government has partnered with the Commonwealth to seal the remainder of Outback Way as part of a $678 million project to deliver a new strategic transport and tourism route to the Eastern States.
The Federal Government has allocated $400 million to complete the 872 kilometre sealing of the road through the northern part of the Goldfields-Esperance region in Western Australia, with the State Government committing a further $100 million towards the project.
This is a project of regional, State and National significance and GEDC warmly acknowledges the efforts of the Outback Highway Development Council and local governments that have helped drive this significant infrastructure project, which will see the WA section of the highway sealed by 2030.
The Outback Way extends 2,720 kilometres from Laverton to Winton in Queensland.
The funding means there is an additional $500 million to complete the final 589 kilometres over the next seven years.
The road is critical in providing access to remote Aboriginal communities, with sealing to improve access to health and other services, while opening up rich mineral deposits east of Laverton.
The project will also see a new road link to the Eastern States, providing a new freight and tourism route.