Works have kicked off on the first project to form part of the $500 million Queensland Beef Roads program, to progressively upgrade and seal critical freight routes across the state.
The $47.5 million early works package has begun with sealing a priority section of Clermont–Alpha Road, approximately 89 kilometres north of Alpha in the Barcaldine Region. This is the first step in what is a 10-year investment strategy to improve transport efficiency, safety, and resilience for Queensland’s beef industry.
The Central Queensland Beef Roads Investment Strategy (CQBRIS) has been developed in partnership with seven regional councils forming the Queensland Beef Corridors (QBC) group, industry, and both levels of government. It sets out priorities to seal nine key beef corridor roads to help strengthen supply chains, reduce costs, and support economic growth across Central Queensland.
Additional early works will soon get underway to deliver widening, sealing and floodway upgrades to Alpha–Tambo Road, Fitzroy Developmental Road between Bauhinia and Duaringa, and on May Downs Road.
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Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the local road network is responsible for supporting the movement of around $1.7 billion in freight and agricultural produce – primarily Australian beef – each year.
“The Central Queensland Beef Corridor road network are critical routes for cattle freight. These roads stretch around around 218,000 square kilometres, which is an area about the same size as Great Britain,” Mickelberg said.
“The sealing of these strategic beef corridor roads will improve the cattle supply chain in the region from our primary producers to saleyards, processing facilities and onto plates both here and overseas.”
The program is backed by $400 million from the Federal Government and $100 million from the Queensland Government.
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