PAVING THE WAY TO KIMBERLEY PROSPERITY

SEALING THE TANAMI ROAD

Halls Creek Shire president Malcolm Edwards was overjoyed at the Federal Budget commitment to seal the Tanami Road to the NT border yesterday.

Mr Edwards said this was the Number 1 development priority for the four Kimberley Shires as it would open up the region to Eastern Australia.

"I'd like someone to tell me if there's another gravel road in Australia, that if bitumenised had more economic potential than the Tanami Road," he said.

"I would like to honestly know about it because I don't think there is," he said.

Mr Edwards said he had been lobbying to have the road sealed for many decades.

The Federal Government has allocated $400 million to the project.