Project Overview
Following on from the successful delivery of the Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls 4WD access track upgrade projects, Intract Australia in partnership with McMahon Services were engaged to complete this project at Gunlom Falls. Gunlom is located on Waterfall Creek in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park, and also located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the NorthernTerritory. The project involved the road reconstruction and re-sheet of approximately ten kilometres of gravel road to improve road access for tourism leading into the Kakadu National Park, which covers an area of 19,804 kilometers.
The project scope was as follows:
- Clean-out and reform existing cut off drains;
- Clean-out and reform existing floodway inlets and outlets;
- Supply and deliver 18,200 tonne of imported fill and road base gravel from Shoal Bay Quarry, Darwin (350km away) to mix and stockpile at the nominated area;
- Haul, install and compact fill material to wash out areas and to re-establish original road sub-grade level;
- Haul, install and compact gravel road base to complete.
This project was undertaken around the wet season, which saw pre-planning of deliveries split between the dry season and post wet season to minimise works during tourist peak periods. The Kakadu National Park has restricted access during the wet season, as well as strict environmental working conditions around the flora and fauna and native wildlife that needed to be adhered too.
The cultural and natural values of Kakadu National Park were recognised internationally when the park was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is an international register of properties that are recognised as having outstanding cultural or natural values of international significance. Approximately half of the land in Kakadu is aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, and most of the remaining land is currently under claim by Aboriginal people. The areas of the park that are owned by Aboriginal people are leased by the traditional owners to the Director of National Parks to be managed as a national park.
As an indigenous owned and operated business with strong connections to the region, Intract Australia provided a compelling choice to deliver this contract.
