Published Friday, 26 September, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Respect for cultural heritage delivers smoother upgrades
The implementation of a new Road Cultural Heritage Agreement will allow for smoother delivery of road upgrades in the Mount Isa–Camooweal region.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the agreement between Main Roads and the Indjilandji-Dhidhanu people was the second of its kind to be implemented by the department.
"The establishment of the Road Cultural Heritage Agreement is a testament to Main Roads' commitment to building relationships with the traditional owners in the region," Mr Pitt said.
"This agreement allows Main Roads to both maintain a strong relationship with the Indigenous community and move more quickly in designing and delivering road upgrades."
Main Roads North-West Regional Director Peter Trim said having existing processes in place to preserve and protect cultural heritage in the road corridor reduced the amount of time spent in the planning phase of road projects.
"By referring to the agreement, we can immediately identify areas of cultural importance and determine what processes need to be followed before construction begins. This eliminates any uncertainty that may have previously occurred in the planning phase," he said.
Mr Trim said Main Roads had developed a strong working relationship with Myuma, a company owned and managed by the Indjilandji-Dhidhanu people.
In 2006, Myuma joined Main Roads in the award-winning Split Rock Inca Alliance, a partnership created to complete the Inca and Wooroona Creeks upgrade on the Barkly Highway in 2006.
This relationship continues today with Mr Trim joining Indjilandji-Dhidhanu representatives Ruby Saltmere, Colin Saltmere and Hazel Windsor in Camooweal last Monday to sign the agreement.
Myuma Managing Director Colin Saltmere said the agreement provided a strong foundation for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in the region and set a benchmark for other government and industry groups.
"This agreement solidifies our commitment to working with Main Roads to manage cultural heritage within the road corridor," Mr Saltmere said.
"It also provides a platform for Myuma to develop and implement similar frameworks for cultural heritage management with other industry groups."
Main Roads developed and implemented the first Road Cultural Heritage Agreement in March 2007 with the Mitakoodi people, Traditional Owners of the Cloncurry – Mount Isa region.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819. Photographs of agreement signing available on request.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the agreement between Main Roads and the Indjilandji-Dhidhanu people was the second of its kind to be implemented by the department.
"The establishment of the Road Cultural Heritage Agreement is a testament to Main Roads' commitment to building relationships with the traditional owners in the region," Mr Pitt said.
"This agreement allows Main Roads to both maintain a strong relationship with the Indigenous community and move more quickly in designing and delivering road upgrades."
Main Roads North-West Regional Director Peter Trim said having existing processes in place to preserve and protect cultural heritage in the road corridor reduced the amount of time spent in the planning phase of road projects.
"By referring to the agreement, we can immediately identify areas of cultural importance and determine what processes need to be followed before construction begins. This eliminates any uncertainty that may have previously occurred in the planning phase," he said.
Mr Trim said Main Roads had developed a strong working relationship with Myuma, a company owned and managed by the Indjilandji-Dhidhanu people.
In 2006, Myuma joined Main Roads in the award-winning Split Rock Inca Alliance, a partnership created to complete the Inca and Wooroona Creeks upgrade on the Barkly Highway in 2006.
This relationship continues today with Mr Trim joining Indjilandji-Dhidhanu representatives Ruby Saltmere, Colin Saltmere and Hazel Windsor in Camooweal last Monday to sign the agreement.
Myuma Managing Director Colin Saltmere said the agreement provided a strong foundation for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in the region and set a benchmark for other government and industry groups.
"This agreement solidifies our commitment to working with Main Roads to manage cultural heritage within the road corridor," Mr Saltmere said.
"It also provides a platform for Myuma to develop and implement similar frameworks for cultural heritage management with other industry groups."
Main Roads developed and implemented the first Road Cultural Heritage Agreement in March 2007 with the Mitakoodi people, Traditional Owners of the Cloncurry – Mount Isa region.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819. Photographs of agreement signing available on request.