Over a two-day period in late July, 12 people gathered in Punmu for another important stage in the development and
planning of the Niminjarra Road.
The team comprised surveyor Steve Burrows and road engineer John King, both from Cardno; Department of Environment and
Conservation officers Alex Bowlay, Alison McGilvray and Neil Gibson; WDLAC heritage officer Philip Haydock; traditional
owners including Waka Taylor, Minyawu Miller, Milton Chapman and Lindsay Hardcase; Newcrest community relations
superintendent Leon van Erp; and pilot Justin Hooper, from Helicopters Australia.
The primary aims of the trip were to confirm a likely road alignment, particularly the route between Lake Dora and Lake
Blanche where more than one way through is possible; and to lay targets along the length of the route in preparation for
aerial photography.  
The aerial photography will assist with the detailed design of the road.
The DEC officers were also able to collect samples of flora and make fauna observations in remote and rarely-visited
sections of Karlamilyi National Park as part of a preliminary environmental scan of the proposed road corridor within
the park.
Progress on the Niminjarra Road may appear slow but, in fact, much has been achieved during the past year:
✔  Regular meetings of the Steering Group for the project;
✔  Confirmation from the Martu at their AGM in September 2009 that the project is one they wholeheartedly support and
see as important;
✔  Direction from the AGM that the issues still to be discussed about management and maintenance of the road should be
dealt with through the Park Council - a Council of Martu who work with DEC on management issues for the Karlamilyi
National Park.
Issues include final alignment, access, ownership and maintenance.
✔  Re-establishment of the Park Council, leading to its first Council meeting for a number of years, held in Parnngurr
in March this year, and convened by DEC.
The meeting proposed an alternative alignment for consideration for one portion of the road between the two lakes, and
identified the traditional owners who could speak for the land and advise on suitability of this proposed new alignment;
and
✔  The on-ground survey trip on July 22 and 23 to lay survey targets on the ground prior to aerial photography of the
route.  
Following detailed design of the road and subsequent sign-off by all parties including the Martu, the project will move
through to the approvals phase.
This will involve thorough environmental and cultural surveys of the road alignment.
The rate of progress through the various planning stages for the road is dependent on the availability of funding, but
it is envisaged that the project will move to approvals phase during 2011.

Niminjarra Road to create direct link
The two communities of Punmu and Parnngurr are located in Karlamiliyi National Park, and lie about 120 kilometres apart.
However, the journey between them currently involves a 7-hour, 350-kilometre trip.
The Niminjarra Road will create a direct route between the two communities, and would cut a one-way journey to about two
hours, saving 220km in travel distance and about 4 hours in travel time.
The road would be a natural terrain road, with gravel sheeting across the sand dunes, suitable for cars and small
trucks.

Steve Burrows sets up a survey target prior to aerial photography.

Road route options are discussed.

Alison McGilvray identifies animal tracks.