A remote road on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula has been sealed, connecting the Indigenous community of Hope Vale to the rest of the world via bitumen for the first time.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the sealing of the Endeavour Valley Road was great news for Hope Vale locals, tourists, and others who lived in the wider region.
"Works on the final stage of this road, which connects Hope Vale to Cooktown, are complete thanks to $4.5 million in additional funding from the Palaszczuk Government, which is on top of the jointly funded Cape York Region Package," she said.
"This is a critical access road for the community, and the completion of its sealing ensures improved accessibility for Hope Vale residents during the wet season.
"Local residents have been campaigning for years to have this critical road link upgraded and I am sure they are as pleased as I am to finally see the vision become a reality."
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said work on the EVR provided valuable training and upskilling opportunities for the local Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council (HVASC) crews.
"RoadTek has been working alongside HVASC to help develop technical skills and workforce capability," he said.
"The Endeavour Valley Road is the only access to the remote Indigenous community of Hope Vale, and is a lifeline for the 1500 residents who live there.
"Until recently, it was Queensland’s most heavily trafficked gravel road, and local residents and road users were forced to tolerate dust, potholes and isolation from essential services during the annual wet season.
"In 2017, sealing of 7.51 kilometres of the road was completed under a $10 million funding allocation from the Cape York Region Package, jointly funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government.
"When the Cape York Region Package funding was exhausted in mid-2017, a further 2.81 kilometres of the Endeavour Valley Road remained unsealed.
"Recognising the importance of finishing the job, the Palaszczuk Government quickly contributed a further $4.5 million, separate to the Cape York Region Package, to upgrade the last remaining section."
The Palaszczuk Government provided additional funds to seal the final 2.81 kilometres, separate to the initial $10 million from the Cape York Region Package funds.
