Negotiations over 'Australia's biggest shortcut' near an end
Years of complex land access negotiations with multiple traditional owner groups appear to be nearing an end, paving the way for the sealing of an outback highway dubbed "Australia's biggest shortcut".
Australia's longest highway shortcut, the Outback Way, is nearing completion as negotiations with Indigenous land groups draw to a close. Stretching 2,719 kilometres from Laverton in Western Australia to Winton in Queensland, the project has cost over $1.2 billion in state and federal funding since 1997. The WA government is now negotiating land access agreements with traditional owners to resume construction after a four-year delay.
With approvals almost secured, roadwork on the WA side of the border is expected to resume soon, likely starting just after Christmas. Main Roads has completed assessments for a 171km section, which could see 660 hectares of native vegetation cleared. Concerns remain about preserving culturally significant sites, managing visitor behaviour, and supporting the expected surge in traffic.
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