Remote community may be cut off after road maintenance uncertainty

Funding to maintain a road connecting a remote Kimberley indigenous community to the outside world will no longer be administered by the Shire of Broome – leaving a question mark over its future.

The council has for the last time has agreed to a request from Main Roads to administer funds for grading the unsealed part of the Bidyadanga access, 180km south of Broome.

Shire President Ron Johnston said the council believed it was exposed to public liability risk by continuing to upgrade and maintain an undedicated road that was not under its care or control.

The Aboriginal community has a population of about 800 people and the lease is held by the Karajarri Traditional Lands Association (KTLA).

The Shire initially funded and built 7.45km of sealed community access and maintained the remaining 5.45km gravel unsealed section.

The excision of land for a road reserve required consent from the lessees, as the access was located within the Frazier Downs pastoral leasehold.

The KTLA was consulted regarding the proposed dedication of the road in 2011 but did not consent to the surrender or excision part of its pastoral lease without financial compensation.

The council said the grading, upgrading and maintenance of the road by the Shire was not regarded by the KTLA to be “a valid consideration”.

While negotiations continued regarding dedication of the road, the council continued to carry out maintenance using gravel from a pit at Frazier Downs for the sole purpose of improving the access.

In September 2010, the KTLA advised the council that the access fee for the gravel pit had increased.

The council said there was no evidence to support calculation of the new rate, which it considered “excessive”.

In 2012, the council advised the KTLA and the community it would no longer accept responsibility as it was not a gazetted public road.

Main Roads has agreed to a request from the community and will provide $5000 to grade the unsealed section.

But as the grant can only be paid direct to a local government the council voted to administer the payment as a one-off.

Mr Johnston acknowledged it was an important road but said the decision was made “on the condition that the council does not accept responsibility for the work done by the Bidyadanga community and its contractors”.