The Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) is a critical transport link within the Cape York Peninsula. Local communities rely on the PDR for connectivity, access to essential health and well-being services, freight, education, cultural purposes and economic opportunity. The PDR also provides the critical access routes to Cairns, Weipa, and the communities on Cape York.
In 2014, the Queensland Government committed to upgrade and progressively seal 173km of the PDR and community access roads as part of the 5-year Cape York Region Package.
Peninsula Developmental Road - Mein Deviation
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Video transcript
Ever driven to the top of Cape York? Dream of making the drive?
We're working to improve the Peninsula Developmental Road.
From this... (dirt road) to this (same road, now paved with line markings
Safer roads for remote Cape York
Completed under the $260.5 million Australian & Queensland Government Cape York Region Package
78.5km of Peninsula Developmental Road has been sealed so far
Providing skills and work for Indigenous trainees, employees and businesses
180 jobs generated this year
Driving the local economy with better access for freight, locals and tourists
[Australian Government logo, Queensland Government logo]
To support this project, and work collaboratively, we partnered with Cape York Traditional Owners to establish the PDR Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA).
The PDR ILUA validated any past works undertaken on the PDR and records Traditional Owner consent to proceed with future PDR works validly, with respect to Native Title Act 1993 (Commonwealth) and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Queensland). The PDR ILUA also sets out the agreed framework for an Environment Management Strategy that is implemented during the PDR works.
Gravel laid on wet bitumen at Sorayas Hill on the Peninsula Developmental Road, Cape York Region Package
Sorayas Hill worker Patrick Spratt working on the Peninsula Development Road
Since its establishment, the PDR ILUA has helped to build stronger relationships and greater trust between the Queensland Government and Cape York Traditional Owners. The establishment of the PDR ILUA has provided an important mechanism for the unified focus to improve opportunities for Cape York communities. It serves to actively support the provision of training, education, employment and economic development through works undertaken on the PDR. 86 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including 36 New Entrant trainees, were employed on the sealing and gravel production projects on the PDR. Additionally, 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses were working on or sub-contracted to the PDR projects.
Construction on the Peninsula Developmental Road, Cape York Region Package Archer to Wolverton
Peninsula Developmental Road completion video
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Video transcript
Peninsula Developmental Road
795 jobs created, with 321 Indigenous employees
$84 million spent on local Cape York businesses, supporting economic development and growth
173km of new seal added to the PDR between Laura and the Rio Tinto Boundary south of Weipa
Improving access to Cape York for local residents, freight and tourists
In 2015 alone, approximately 4,245 cultural heritage monitor hours were accumulated across the projects being delivered on the PDR through the Cape York Region Package, and at the peak of construction there were more than 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees employed on the projects.
We also launched a scholarship opportunity for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people with a traditional or historical connection to Country around the PDR as part of the Land Use Agreement.
Construction on the Peninsula Developmental Road, Cape York Region Package Archer to Wolverton
