APY Lands - main access road upgrade
  • APY Lands logo
  • Pukatja logo
  • Kaltjiti logo
  • Mimili logo
  • Iwantja logo
  • Australian Government logo
  • South Australian Government logo

The Australian Government and the South Australian Governments are upgrading 210 km of the Main Access Road between the Stuart Highway and Pukatja (Ernabella) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

In addition, approximately 21 km's of community and airstrip access roads in Pukatja (Ernabella), Umuwa, Kaltjiti (Fregon), Mimili and Iwantja (Indulkana) also form part of the project.

The current main access road is in poor condition with sections of high corrugation and areas below the natural surface level resulting in flooding and inaccessibility at times.

This upgrade will require the road surface to be built up and reformed on the existing alignment; however minor realignments may be required on the adjacent natural surface to improve safety.

The improvements will provide a range of community benefits and will contribute to national and State Aboriginal Affairs policy objectives.

The project will also provide employment opportunities for Anangu in the local communities.

Key benefits include:

  • Safer travel between the communities
  • Improved delivery of food supplies
  • Improved emergency service access during poor weather
  • Improved access to training and employment opportunities
  • Improved living standards as a result of better services access
  • Additional community interaction and social exchange
  • Less wear and tear on vehicles
  • Less road flooding

The upgrade is being undertaken in three main stages:

  • Stage 1: Pukatja (Ernabella) to Umuwa (Double Tank)
  • Stage 2: Umuwa (Double Tank) to Mimili
  • Stage 3: Mimili to Iwantja (Indulkana)

These $156.8 million upgrades are jointly funded by the Australian (80%) and South Australian (20%) governments.

Contact the project team for further information.

Latest News

All upgrades on the 210km of the Main Access Road were completed in December 2021.

Sealing of floodways, Mimili Access, Mimili Airstrip Access, Kaltjiti (Fregon) Access and Kaltjiti (Fregon) Airstrip Access Roads were completed in December 2021.

Construction information for the Main Access Road Upgrade (210km)

Stage 1

  • Pukatja (Ernabella) to Umuwa (Double Tank)
  • 43km completed Nov 2018
  • 29km sealed in Dec 2019

Stage 1A

  • Pukatja (Ernabella) Airstrip Access Road
  • 4km constructed Aug 2015

Stage 2

  • Umuwa (Double Tank) to Mimili
  • 90km completed in Dec 2021

Stage 3

  • Mimili to Iwantja (Indulkana)
  • 66km completed in Jul 2021

Stage 3A

  • Iwantja (Indulkana) to Stuart Highway
  • 7km completed in Mar 2016

Additional sealing

  • Umuwa to Kaltjiti (Fregon)
  • 31.3km construction due to commence Jan 2024

Sealing of 21km of Community access roads:

  • Iwantja (Indulkana) to Stuart Highway: 7km sealed Mar 2016
  • Pukatja (Ernabella) Airstrip Access Road: 4km sealed Jun 2017
  • Umuwa Access Road & Airstrip Access Road: 2km sealed Dec 2019
  • Kaltjiti (Fregon) Access Road & Airstrip Access Road: 2km sealed Dec 2021
  • Mimili Access Road & Airstrip Access Road: 6km sealed Dec 2021

This map shows the various construction stages. Click the image to view a larger version.

A map of the Main Access Road from Stuart Highway to Pukatja, with information on road construction and sealing. Refer the text description for all details.

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