THE ongoing campaign to improve a transcontinental road linking Far North Queensland to Western Australia via the Channel Country continues.
Long-serving Boulia Shire Mayor Rick Britton has just returned from Alice Springs where he attended the Outback Highway Development Council (OHDC) meeting, joining local government representatives from along the 2,720km Outback Way corridor between Cairns and Perth.
The OHDC is calling on the Federal Government, along with their counterparts in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, to work together to unlock the full potential of the Outback Way, which passes right through Boulia, famous for its Min Min Light and iconic camel races.
Cr Britton says whilst sealing the road remains the priority, the next step is making sure communities are ready to benefit from it.
“The sealed Outback Way will deliver opportunities and benefits across transport, defence, tourism, supply-chain resilience, regional development and First Nations enterprise opportunities,” claims Cr Britton, who serves as OHDC’s Deputy Chair.
Upgrading the Outback Way has been a long-time pet project for Boulia’s veteran Mayor, who recently announced he would not be seeking re-election at the next council elections in 2028.
PHOTO: A section of the Outback Way, somewhere between Boulia and Alice Springs, on the Queensland side of the border.
POSTED: Tuesday, August 11, 2026