Thread: Seal the Hahn Highway?

It is a matter of priorities - and I do not pretend to have these at my fingertips. While there is an ongoing need to seal a lot of rural roads right round Australia, it is going to take the judgement of Solomon to decide which ones to do first - I can think of a few round her that I would prefer to see sealed ......

ANd then the $70M has to be looked at against other non-road and non-transport options.

John

Even with the priorities allowing it, as a minimum they have to get the get the indexation of fuel excise through the senate first and then probably more taxation elsewhere.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Northern Australia: Renewed push to seal inland north Queensland highway - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)


I don't know this road, so what do you people think - would this be a good use of $70 million?

The half a dozen people who use it once a week would think so. It's a road from nowhere to nowhere, I can think of a dozen roads that could soak up seventy million, in Queensland alone, that would benefit far more people.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

The half a dozen people who use it once a week would think so. It's a road from nowhere to nowhere, I can think of a dozen roads that could soak up seventy million, in Queensland alone, that would benefit far more people.

Rubbish!

Its one of three logical routes from the Southern States to Cairns and the most direct route from Dubbo/Bourke/Charlieville to Atherton.

Along with the Barcaldine-Hughenden roads it is the missing link in tourist roads on the north-south corridor.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Rubbish!

Its one of three logical routes from the Southern States to Cairns and the most direct route from Dubbo/Bourke/Charlieville to Atherton.

Along with the Barcaldine-Hughenden roads it is the missing link in tourist roads on the north-south corridor.

Good to see you have your priorities in order, Dianna. The handful of tourists who may or may not wander up the upgraded Hann/Kennedy Development Road still have better options.
North from the Oasis to Forty Mile Scrub is single lane bitumen and heavily trafficed by Type 2 road trains to Mt. Garnett. From Garnett to the southern tableland is narrow and steep and slippery in many parts. The three southern range crossings are steep with the Gillies being particularly treacherous.
By far the better option is via Charters Towers and Townsville.

Leaving aside the limited current usage, could sealing the road open up the area to a lot more visitors, generating more jobs? Looking at the map I can't see it, but I could be missing something.


I'm thinking of a comparison with Cape York , which would obviously benefit if the development road was sealed.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Good to see you have your priorities in order, Dianna. The handful of tourists who may or may not wander up the upgraded Hann/Kennedy Development Road still have better options.
North from the Oasis to Forty Mile Scrub is single lane bitumen and heavily trafficed by Type 2 road trains to Mt. Garnett. From Garnett to the southern tableland is narrow and steep and slippery in many parts. The three southern range crossings are steep with the Gillies being particularly treacherous.
By far the better option is via Charters Towers and Townsville.

Firstly I have traversed that route, granted 30 years ago, but I would warrant that it has not had much in the way of improvements since then.

Most of the other routes, want you to go through Townsville and not have the outback experience.

Isn't the reason that we have our vehicles is to see the country irrespective of how narrow, steep and slippery some sections may be?

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Firstly I have traversed that route, granted 30 years ago, but I would warrant that it has not had much in the way of improvements since then.

Most of the other routes, want you to go through Townsville and not have the outback experience.

Isn't the reason that we have our vehicles is to see the country irrespective of how narrow, steep and slippery some sections may be?

Provided it's bitumen? Toorak tractor syndrome? Any one who has driven to Hughenden, from wherever, is not short of the outback experience.

If you're spending colossal amounts of money on a road network, common sense would dictate that you don't create a new, modern highway that is surrounded by sub-standard roads.

There are plenty of unsealed road carrying greater volumes of traffic, that have no alternate route. There are a number of sealed, major highways, including the Bruce that need floodproofing. These issues need addressing long before the folly of the Hann is bitumened.