It is a north-south link between the Burke Developmental Road and the Kennedy Highway, servicing a number of cattle grazing and production areas in northern Queensland.

Continuing south it crosses the Rocky Tate River and turns south-east, entering Forty Mile from the west.

The $7.4 million for Ootann Road is in addition to previously funded projects for the Cairns to Northern Territory Border corridor.

Valley of Lagoons Station is a pastoral lease about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Mount Garnet that was established in 1862.

Early roads were cut from both Almaden and Gunnawarra to provide access for wheeled vehicles to the pastoral runs and other settlements.