Outback truckie Paul Williams reckons the Barkly Tablelands Highway in the Northern Territory is by far the “worst bitumen road in Australia to travel on”.
Paul, who celebrated his 59th birthday on January 23, drives a Kenworth T909 from his Mount Isa base to a remote Northern Territory mine twice a week.
It is an 800km return journey and the Barkly Tablelands Highway is part of the route.
“It runs for about 400km from Barkly Homestead to the McArthur River mine where I deliver to. I can take more than six hours driving a triple to get to the mine and I have no doubt it is the worst road in the country that has a bitumen surface,” he said
The open cut mine has one of the world’s largest deposits of zinc and lead, about 970 kilometres south-east of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Zinc and lead is mined and processed there and trucked to Bing Bong Loading Facility on the Gulf of Carpentaria. From there it is shipped around the world.
For the past six years Paul has worked for Team Global Express. He gained his MC licence about three years ago.
“I started at the depot as a forklift driver and have been involved with the road transport industry for more than 20 years. I used to be a removalist in Townsville,” he said.
Paul loves the job which he said “pays well” and enjoys the Kenworth which has a 600hp engine under the bonnet.
“It has an automatic gearbox which is another good thing,” Paul added.
Regarding rest areas, Paul said there were few on his route, especially those required by drivers.
“There are some pull off places but none have toilets and these are needed,” he said.
Outside work, Paul does a spot of fishing at the Georgina River near Mount Isa where he has caught some yellow belly species.
“I also go down to a pub in Mount Isa for a few coldies and a modest flutter on the horses,” he said.
The only roadhouse he stops at is the Barkly Homestead and Paul often has a meal after he unloads at the mine.
Barkly Homestead is located between Tennant Creek, NT, and Camooweal, Queensland.
“I had a rest there the other night and had a hamburger which was delicious and a good price. It was nice and many truckies go there,” he said.
Paul grew up in Townsville which is 900km from Mount Isa, where he has lived for two decades.
“I like Mount Isa much better as it has less traffic and a laid back lifestyle,” he said.
Paul had some sorry business in Townsville on Christmas eve when he attended the funeral of his younger sister Maureen who died suddenly of illness.
I asked Paul what about his hopes for 2025 were and he answered swiftly. “To have a better year than in 2024,” he said.
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