Creating Jobs: Litchfield Park Road Final Stage Awarded

ONE of the most loved destinations in the Territory will be upgraded to ensure year round road access.

Litchfield National Park is one of the region’s most popular parks with about 340,000 visitors per year. It is projected the park will create more than $14 million annually in economic benefits to the Territory once the final stage is complete.

Local company Ostojic Group has been awarded the $26 million contract to construct a new bridge over the Lower Finniss River and complete the upgrade and sealing of the last 12 kilometres of Litchfield Park Road – completing the loop road. The project will support 80 local jobs.

These upgrades are essential to ensure the road is opened during the wet season where normally it may be closed for long periods of time.

The Northern Territory Government has been working with Traditional Owner groups to ensure their engagement in the project and to provide jobs to local Aboriginal people who have a strong connection to the area.

Litchfield Park Road has been progressively upgraded and sealed over a number of years to improve flood immunity, road safety and increase access for remote communities and towns in Litchfield Park and surrounds.

The Northern Territory Government has contributed [$39 million] to the entire project and the Australian Government has made available $5.7 million as part of the Asset Recycling Initiative.

For more information go to www.dipl.nt.gov.au.