THE NT Integrated Regional Transport Strategy (IRTS) currently in development aims to provide options for safe, reliable and viable transport access and services within our vast geographical regions.
As a first for the Territory the IRTS will support better education, health and social outcomes and enhance business and tourism opportunities planning the way forward in regional and remote transport logistics on a macro scale for the NT.
The differing nature of the communities in the NT means that a mix of road, air, rail and marine transport is required across the regions for the movement of passengers and freight.
The challenges for Government and industry relate to small and widely dispersed populations covering vast geographical areas operating in extreme conditions where transport infrastructure requirements represent the need for billions of dollars in investment on frontier environments.
This huge body of work is one of my first challenges upon entering the transport portfolio this year via extensive consultation with industry, business, organisations and consumers right across the NT in the form of submissions and workshops delivering accurate research on regional transport issues including potential options.
The reporting stage of the strategy is expected to be completed early in 2010 and I am committed to addressing the challenges for the provision of cost effective transport connections to regional and remote communities which is critical for the social and economic development of the NT and to assist in the successful implementation of major NT Government initiatives such as Territory 2030, Closing the Gap and Working Future.
Last week I attended the Australian Transport Ministerial Council meeting in Sydney where I again re-enforced the Territory’s and regional Australia’s challenges of working in isolated areas, travelling large distances and operating in extreme terrain.
I have made certain the Federal Minister, Anthony Albanese knows there is a big difference between the ‘eastern seaboard model’ and operating in remote and regional Australia and when you sit at the table with our Federal Transport Minister and all state and Territory Ministers you get a real appreciation in terms of the scale of transport infrastructure and logistics we are operating in.
Transport is a ‘big ticket item’ that underpins every area of social, cultural and economic developments however there are no quick fixes for real outcomes!
One of the ways in which governments can work is to facilitate the operational environments supporting the entry of private sector industry into the transport space and on the ‘home front’ I commend Centre Bush Bus on their new Daylight Express passenger and freight services between Tennant and Alice Springs.
Well done to Mick Fletcher and his staff who operate across some of the remotest parts of central Australia providing safe and affordable passenger and freight services and as such requires the critical support of the travelling public.
As we see our local and regional economy grow through resource development and investment in Tennant and the Barkly, innovative transport models will also expand in terms of the basic economic principles of supply and demand.
The challenges now for Government and business is how to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable inter-modal transport connecting the diverse regions yet ironically it will be the consumer that decides what stays or goes!
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