5Declaration of national highways and developmental roads

5 Declaration of national highways and developmental roads

(1) The Minister may declare a road in a State that constitutes, or a proposed road in a State that would, if constructed, constitute, a part of the road that, in the opinion of the Minister, is or will be the principal road linking: (a) 2 or more State capital cities; (b) a State capital city and Canberra; (c) Brisbane and Cairns; or (d) Hobart and Burnie; to be a national highway for the purposes of this Act. (2) The Minister may declare a road in a State that constitutes, or a proposed road in a State that would, if constructed, constitute, a road that should, in the opinion of the Minister, be treated, by reason of its national importance, as a national highway for the purposes of this Act to be, for those purposes, a national highway. (3) Where the Minister is of the opinion: (a) that a road or a proposed road in a State is of use or would, if constructed, be of use: (i) in the development of particular industries or particular energy resources (including industries or energy resources in remote areas of Australia); (ii) in facilitating or developing trade or commerce with other countries or among the States; or (iii) in facilitating, to a significant extent, travel for tourist purposes; and (b) that, for that reason, the road is, or the proposed road would, if constructed, be, of national importance; the Minister may declare the road or the proposed road to be a developmental road for the purposes of this Act. (4) The Minister may revoke or vary a declaration made under this section.