Community & Business
22 January, 2022
Push to fully seal Hann
SEALING the final 10km stretch of the Hann Highway between The Lynd and Hughenden is critical to transporting produce from the region, according to Member for Kennedy Bob Katter who has written to the Federal Government to put pressure to get the funding needed to do the job.
Works on the Hann Highway (or Kennedy Developmental Road) works are currently funded under the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative.
The $50 million project to progressively seal approximately 48km of the road is due to be finalised at the end of 2023 but Mr Katter says around 10km of highway road will remain unsealed following the completion of the current ROSI works.
He said it was critical that the final 10km of sealing take place as soon as possible as the Hann Highway cuts 700km off the journey from the tropical fruit and vegetable growing area of Australia, to Melbourne – the biggest distribution hub.
“In North Queensland we grow around 5 to 10 per cent of Australia’s fruit and vegetables and it’s critical that we can get it to market as quickly as possible and in the best condition,” he said.
“A fully-sealed Hann Highway will be the most productive way of achieving this. We will send tropical fruit and vegetables (bananas, mangoes, avocadoes) and receive back temperate produce.”
