The Federal Government has announced a funding contribution of $38 million to support early works on the $500 million Central Queensland Beef Roads project.
The Central Queensland Beef Roads is a strategic road network that covers 218,000 square kilometres and supports the movement of around $1.7 billion in freight and agricultural produce – in particular Australian beef – each year from inland areas to saleyards, processing facilities and ports across the region.
The road network also supports the tourism, critical minerals and renewable energy sectors.
Works will focus on sealing and widening sections of the network to provide all-weather access, improve productivity and optimise safety.
Early works will get underway in mid-2025 and will include upgrades to 7.6 kilometres of May Downs Road, 5.7 kilometres of Alpha-Tambo Road, 4.8 kilometres of Fitzroy Developmental Road, 3.0 kilometres of Clermont-Alpha Road West and 2.7 kilometres of Clermont-Alpha Road East.
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On top of the early works, a 10-year investment strategy is being developed for the Beef Roads project that will identify short, medium and long-term priorities and guide future investment decisions. The investment strategy is expected to be completed in mid-2025.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King said the project will provide benefits for all road users, not just freight.
“We know there is still work to do, but this first set of projects will make the roads wider, smoother and above all, safer for all road users,” King said.
“This is good for our nation’s freight productivity, good for central Queenslanders, and good for our truckies who use these roads every day.”
The $500 million project is being jointly funded by the Federal ($400M) and Queensland Governments ($100M). The project will be completed by mid-2027.
