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Freight gains in Queensland Budget spending

Treasurer Trad sees surplus despite huge outgoings

 

With a surplus of $1.5 billion flagged in her first Budget, Queensland treasurer Jackie Trad has promised the “largest capital works program since the 2011 flood recovery”.

The headline Budget measure is a $45.8 billion infrastructure pipeline over the next four years, including Bruce Highway upgrades, as part of a $21.7 billion spend over the same period on the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP).

“This is the third year in a row the Palaszczuk Government has made a record investment in road and transport infrastructure and is an increase of around $700 million on last year’s commitment,” Trad says.

With that in mind, the Budget Papers reveal Department of Transport and Main Roads will see the total capital program at $4.2 billion, including a capital grants expenditure rise from $232 million rise in the last Budget to $239 million.

Spending on freight-sensitive road infrastructure includes:

  • $534.3 million to continue the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project, a bypass route to the north of Toowoomba, about 41km from the Warrego Highway at Helidon to the Gore Highway at Athol, via Charlton, at a total cost of $1.606 billion, in partnership with the federal government
  • $200 million to duplicate the Bruce Highway from four to six lanes, Caloundra Road to the Sunshine Motorway, at a total estimated cost of $812.9 million, in partnership with the federal government.
  • $115 million to construct the Mackay Ring Road (Stage 1), at a total estimated cost of $497.4 million, in partnership with the federal government.
  • $70 million to construct additional lanes on the Pacific Motorway between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes, in partnership 
  • $68 million to provide a 3km upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway between Granard Road, Rocklea and Oxley Road, Oxley at a total cost of $400 million, in partnership with the federal government
  • $50 million to upgrade the Pacific Motorway/Gateway Motorway Merge, in partnership
  • $45 million to widen the Gateway Motorway North to six lanes, at a total cost of $1.143 billion, in partnership.
  • $44.1 million to widen the seal and to apply wide centre line treatment at various locations on the Warrego Highway between Dalby and Miles, at a total cost of $63.6 million
  • $40 million to duplicate from two to four lanes on the section of the Bruce Highway (Rockhampton Northern Access) between Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road intersection and Terranova Drive, north of Rockhampton, at a total cost of $121 million, in partnership
  • $37.7 million to construct bridges and approaches on the Bruce Highway (Haughton River Floodplain) south of Giru between Horseshoe Lagoon and Palm Creek, at a total cost of $514.3 million, in partnership federal government
  • $28.3 million to widen from four to six lanes on the section of the Bruce Highway (Cairns Southern Access Corridor Stage 4) from Kate Street to Aumuller Street near the Port of Cairns and wharf precinct, at a total cost of $104.1 million, in partnership
  • $27 million to realign the Peak Downs Highway at Eton Range, at a total cost of $189.3 million, in partnership
  • $24.2 million to undertake restoration works on the Marlborough — Sarina Road at Sarina Range in response to the impacts of Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie, at a total cost of $49.2 million
  • $17.5 million to construct Smithfield Bypass between the Captain Cook Highway at Yorkeys Knob Road Roundabout and McGregor Road Roundabout at a total cost of $152 million
  • $17 million to upgrade approximately nine kilometres of the Pacific Motorway between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill to reduce congestion and travel times, in partnership
  • $15.2 million to duplicate from two to four lanes on the Bruce Highway (Cairns Southern Access Corridor Stage 3) from Collinson Creek in Edmonton as far as the vicinity of Wrights Creek near Gordonvale, at a total cost of $481 million, in partnership
  • $14.4 million out of the Queensland Government’s contribution of $160.8 million 
  • $13 million to seal sections of the Kennedy Developmental Road between Hughenden and The Lynd (Hann Highway), at a total cost of $50 million, in partnership
  • $10.9 million to duplicate from two to four lanes on a section of the Capricorn Highway between Rockhampton and Gracemere, at a total cost of $75 million, in partnership.

For rail, towards the Beerburrum to Nambour rail duplication project “to address the infrastructure and capacity constraints on this section of the North Coast Line. Detailed design will begin in 2018-19, with construction to be delivered in stages based on further negotiations with the federal government.” The federal government has provided an initial $390 million over five years towards this measure

And $21.9 million goes also to upgrade the capacity of the North Coast Rail Line “to increase productivity and efficiency of freight transport”, and $19.6 million “to improve customer experience, maintain service continuity and build network resilience” on the Townsville-Mount Isa Rail Line.

The Gladstone Ports Corporation will spend $2.8 million to commence road infrastructure and concrete remediation works at Barney Point, at a total cost of $12.3 million.

Port of Townsville will spend $44.3 million to continue preparatory and initial works to widen the shipping channels for access by larger vessels, at a total cost of $193.5 million. This is Stage 1 of the Townsville Port Expansion Project. And $18.6 million will be spent to begin acquisition of Berth 4 cranes and development of associated cargo terminal areas to cater for future trade growth, at a total cost of $27.3 million.

Far North Queensland Ports Corporation will see $1.7 million spent on the Horn Island Cargo Wharf Access Road.

 

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