Poorly maintained roads in Australia’s East Pilbara region are hindering access to essential services and family visits for residents of remote communities. The unsealed roads have drawn criticism from local pastoralists, politicians, and the council, particularly affecting areas like Punmu, located 1,310 kilometers northeast of Perth.

Bruce Booth, chair of the Western Desert Land Aboriginal Corporation and a Martu elder, described the roads as dangerous. "The road is so dangerous, it's rough, you can get three punctures on that road going up to Punmu," he said. He emphasized the financial burden of frequent vehicle repairs, stating, "A lot of the time we have flat tyres and sometimes suspension failure, and it costs money." The poor road conditions make it challenging for residents to attend cultural events or visit family members living hundreds of kilometers away.

Robby Chibawe, chief executive of the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS), referred to the roads as a "lifeline" for the communities they serve. PAMS provides primary health care to several Western Desert communities, including Punmu and Jigalong, which are only accessible via these unsealed roads. Chibawe noted that the roads are typically graded once a year by the East Pilbara shire.

Earlier this year, Cyclone Zelia caused significant damage, closing roads to Punmu and Kunawarritji. This forced patients to rely on air travel for medical appointments in Port Hedland, which is at least an eight-hour drive away. Chibawe explained the impact of this situation, saying, "That means a 15 to 20 minute consult in Hedland will end up taking two weeks." He expressed concern that climate change could exacerbate road conditions, leading to further disruptions.

In response to the ongoing issues, Chibawe mentioned that PAMS is exploring the use of drones for delivering medications and other supplies. "For instance, we get a drone that can carry 20 kilograms to Punmu," he said, highlighting a potential solution to the transportation challenges.

The issue of road conditions was raised in state parliament by Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Neil Thomson, who questioned whether funding had been allocated to support the region's most disadvantaged communities. In September, the state government offered nearly $5 million to the shire for the reconstruction of five damaged roads. However, the shire has estimated that repairing all 3,200 kilometers of unsealed roads would cost approximately $260 million.

Shire CEO Steven Harding expressed concerns about the quality of the proposed repairs, stating, "The current offer would see our roads rebuilt to a lower standard than they were before the cyclone — and that's of great concern for the council."

In a related development, two prefabricated houses made from shipping containers are set to be transported to Punmu after a 50-year wait for better housing. However, the shire has not yet accepted the funding offer for road repairs.

WA Greens MP Sophie McNeill criticized the disparity in road conditions, stating, "If you are on your way to or from a mine, it's beautiful, it's gorgeous. But when you're going out to a remote community, the roads are just atrocious."