The South Australian Government has announced the successful tenderer for the $21.4 million contract to undertake the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands Main Access Road upgrade.
The contract, awarded to Toll Mining Services, covers a 43-kilometre section of road between Pukatja (Ernabella) and Umuwa.
The works include the formation and sheeting of the new pavement, mainly along the existing alignment, with some realignment on the adjacent natural surface, including improvements to drainage.
The upgrade is part of the wider works on 210 kilometres of the Main Access Road and 21 kilometres of community access roads between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja (Ernabella) in the APY Lands.
South Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said the contract was expected to support an estimated 55 jobs.
“At a minimum, approximately 18 jobs will go to local Anangu,” Mr. Mullighan said.
“This is in line with the State Government’s commitment, in consultation with the APY Executive Board, to ensure a minimum of 30 per cent of total on-site labour hours be undertaken by local Anangu. This is in addition to the $9.7 million of contracts already awarded as part of the $106.25 million project, which has seen around 34 per cent of total on-site construction hours undertaken by Anangu.”
The Australian Government is contributing $85 million towards the wider $106.25 million project with $21.25 million from the State Government.
The project is due for completion in mid-2019.