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A viable and profitable pastoral industry is underpinned by sound and quality infrastructure that meets the current and emerging needs of the pastoral industry, associated industries, and families. All of industry should be serviced by roads capable of providing a reliable, safe means of road transport that meets the economic and social needs of all users in an equitable manner. With 80% of the road network unsealed, severe restrictions apply to much of the network for months of the year, halting the movement of goods, services and produce. This has a major impact on the efficiency and profitability of the industry, safety and wellbeing of people and families.
The NTCA believes that the upgrading of the regional road network in the Northern Territory (including gazetted pastoral access roads) is the responsibility of the Northern Territory and Federal Governments, as are primary and secondary roads. The federal government Beef Roads program and other key initiatives must be key priorities for the industry to maximise federal investment. The NTCA would like to see a beef industry that is serviced by roads capable of providing a reliable, safe means of road transport that meets the economic and social needs of all users in an equitable manner. The ideal would be to achieve a standard of beef roads capable to accommodate a 6-deck road train allowing producers to access markets year-round.
The NTCA will continue to lobby for the development of a long-term infrastructure development master plan for beef roads, endorsed by government and industry, which considers the future development potential of the NT in terms of agriculture, pastoralism and resources, and a strategy to secure commonwealth and other investment. The main goal of the NTCA is to maintain a focus on and commitment to the Federal Beef Roads initiative to introduce an annual NT Government allocation for NT beef roads.
