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Port Stephens Road Opens Penguin News, March 2004 After twelve years of road construction work, the West Falklands 'spine' road has reached Port Stephens. The inhabitants of the south west settlement have had to wait a long time for the road to reach them. The concept of all weather tracks was heartily welcomed by residents on West Falkland and in 1992 contractors Gordon Forbes Construction started the seemingly impossible task of building a road network on the island. The following year White Rock took on the task and proceeded towards Fox Bay, building the Chartres link on the way. Upon reaching Fox Bay the camp and machinery were transported back up the road and work began on the road to Hill Cove, the first delay int he Port Stephens programme. Gordon Forbes Construction hopped back in the driving seat when contracted to complete the Hill Cove section; Main Point and Shallow Bay were next to be joined to the existing network. The Public Works Department took up the reins and connected Roy Cove. Sheffield Farm followed and in 1999 the plant and machinery were back in Fox Bay with Port Stephens firmly in sight. The road continued to wind its way through the south of West Falkland. A link road to Leicester Farm was completed and it was decided to build a road to Spring Point before continuing to Port Stephens, delaying the original programme further. One farm owner from Port Stephens, Peter Robertson, was heard to comment that he would never see a road to Port Stephens in his lifetime. It is further alleged that as the road inched its way nearer he reduced that claim to needing a wheelchair, and "a pretty nursery on one side and a beautiful driver on the other to travel it." Peter has his driver, his wife Ann (although she has yet to obtain a driving licence) and Penguin News will save a space on the back page should he wish to advertise for the nurse. Three seasons later and the road is not only at Port Stephens settlement, making the road network a total of 270 kilometres, but Mike and Donna Evans at South Harbour are also making good use of their link road. The material used for the final section is of a gritty nature, similar to that used in the Main Point / Shallow Bay area and has been hard on the machinery. The teeth/tips on the buckets digging out have been lasting only 30 hours before needing to be replaced. Plant operator on the roads for six seasons, Jen Harvey explained that the 2.5 miles South Harbour link road took a mere 16 working days to build, and the material used is from "the best quarry we have had for about three years". A group including Road Engineer Bob Hancox, His Excellency the Governor, Howard Pearce, former Director of Public Works Mike Forrest and Councillor Stephen Luxton travelled to West Falkland for the official opening of the new road. Mr Pearce made a short speech before unveiling a brass plaque to commemorate the road opening. He said that one of the things that had impressed him on his visits to camp was the impact of roads on both East and West Falkland, saying "the roads make a real difference to people's lives and the way they improve their lives". Mr Pearce paid tribute to foreman Bert Ford (who has worked on the West roads for ten years) and his gang and to Bob Hancox and Mike Forrest for their contributions to the project. Finally the road gang, Port Stephens residents and invited guests retired to an immaculate shearing shed for nibbles and drinks and a bit of socialising. Bert Ford said he would like to extend his particular thanks to all at FIGAS, explaining "regular supplies of fresh produce, spares for machinery and flights to Stanley for the gang played a very important part in the road building operation". The South West road gang are now working in the direction of Albemarle, and hope to complete three kilometres before finishing their season at the end of April. First published in the Penguin News on 12 March 2004 and reproduced with the kind permission of the Editor
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