$400M road stimulus package for Queensland

Accelerated funding of $400 million has been allocated by the Queensland Government to road projects, to help supercharge the state’s economy through the COVID-19 recovery.

The funding boost came as part of The Queensland Economic Recovery Strategy, ‘Unite and recover for Queensland Jobs’.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the boost would see new projects added to the state’s $23 billion, 21,500-job pipeline of transport and road upgrades.

“This is about investing in Queensland infrastructure to create Queensland jobs as we unite and recover from COVID-19,” Ms. Palaszczuk said.

“Our laser focus is on managing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s investing in infrastructure and jobs that is crucial to tackling those economic impacts head-on.”

The stimulus package includes $200 million to increase resilience, widen and seal key freight routes and upgrade older bridges and culverts. This work is hoped to be a direct injection for regional jobs, helping to support council crews.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the construction industry plays an essential role in keeping the state’s economy moving and it was vital that Queensland doesn’t lose momentum on its record roads and transport investment.

“Today’s announcement of accelerated funding adds to more than $23 billion rolling out across Queensland roads and transport, and I want every Queenslander to know that we continue to deliver those projects because it means support for 21,500 jobs, including 13,500 in our regions,” Mr. Bailey said.

He went on to mention a list of 23 projects already underway and eight major projects to start later this year.

“We’ve already got hundreds of millions of dollars in projects underway right now, including millions for projects being built with councils through our TIDS program, and they’ll all be joined by much bigger ones to hit the ground running in coming months,” Mr. Bailey said.

Specific projects to receive new funding include:

$37.5 million for the jointly-funded Mount Lindesay Highway upgrade from Stoney Camp Road to Chambers Flat Road – 80 jobs
$35 million Lawrie Street upgrade at Gracemere – 56 jobs
$30 million Beaudesert Road and Illaweena Street intersection upgrade – 32 jobs
$18 million Six Mile Creek Bridge upgrade along Pomona-Kin Kin Road – 28 jobs
$15 million Centenary Motorway and Logan Motorway interchange upgrade – 15 jobs
$15 million in additional funding for the Cleveland-Redland Bay Road duplication – 23 jobs
$13 million Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road duplication and intersection upgrade between Valley Drive and Tropic Road – 20 jobs
$10 million Brisbane, Chermside and Glebe roads intersection upgrade – 15 jobs
$10 million Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road upgrade – 15 jobs
$9.5 million for the Beckmans Road and Cooroy-Noosa Road intersection upgrade – 18 jobs
$8.9 million to widen Herveys Range Developmental Road near Townsville – 14 jobs
$3.75 million Caloundra Road and Ridgewood Road intersection upgrade – 12 jobs
$3.5 million Mulgrave Road and Brown Street upgrade in Cairns – 10 jobs
$1.5 million Gold Coast Highway and Toolona Street pedestrian upgrade, Tugun – 4 jobs