Nearly 350km of NT highway still closed months after flood damage

Repair work is yet to start on the NT's Sandover Highway, despite extensive damage in the previous wet season. The NT government launched a $100 million flood recovery fund after widespread damage in the wet season, but most of this money has not been allocated or spent. What's next? The NT government says it is negotiating with its federal counterparts for extra funds, but the Commonwealth says this is unnecessary and existing disaster recovery arrangements are in place. Nearly 350 kilometres of a Northern Territory highway remains closed due to flood damage, several months after it was damaged in the wet season, with no repairs undertaken. The Sandover Highway is closed from Ammaroo cattle station, about 300km north-east of Alice Springs, all the way to the Queensland border. Owner Stewart Weir claimed repair work had not started and said the closure had significantly impacted his business, with cattle trucks forced to take vast detours. "It hasn't been touched at all this year, and it's basically impassable," he said. "That road has not even had an opening grade, or anything on it, which personally I don't think is good enough." Mr Weir said the road, most of which is unsealed, was an important route for multiple cattle stations and the residents of remote Aboriginal communities. "It's not good for the region. The locals travel a lot between Ammaroo, (the community of) Utopia, Lake Nash Station etc," he said. "It's hard work for them as well, on a washed-out road." The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure was contacted multiple times for comment, and has yet to provide a response. The NT government launched a $100 million flood recovery fund, sourced from its budget, but only $12.5 million has been allocated to projects. This includes flood mitigation infrastructure in the towns of Katherine and Alice Springs, as well as $500,000 towards developing a plan to relocate Daly River. A $30.5 million road repair package was also announced, and it is understood this funding has been fully spent. NT Cattlemen's Association chief executive Romy Carey said the industry was frustrated by the uncertainty in the final months of the dry season. "We'd like to see that money allocated and that planning work done," she said. "Roads have been a key issue for the cattle industry … this is not a new topic for us and for our members. "We need to see that money out on the roads now, time is ticking, the wet season will be here before we know it." The NT minister responsible for the flood recovery fund, Jo Hersey, said she was negotiating with federal minister and NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy on potential funding partnerships. A federal government spokesperson said the flood recovery fund was a matter for the territory government. The spokesperson said further negotiation was unnecessary and extra money could be accessed through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The Commonwealth, the states and territories jointly fund DRFA. "The Northern Territory government's flood recovery fund was announced without engagement with or the involvement of the Australian government," the spokesperson said. "If the Northern Territory requires further support. They do not need to negotiate; they need to make a DRFA application." ABC Rural news daily Key stories of the day for Australian primary producers, delivered each weekday afternoon. [Image text:] SANDOVER HIGHWAY Arlparra 153 Alpurrurlam 545 Lake Nash 552 (Camooweal 722)