QLD Govt releases 2018 State Infrastructure Plan

The Queensland Government has released its 2018 update of the State Infrastructure Plan for the next four years.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the State Infrastructure Plan update looks at projects of all scales including big-ticket transport items.

“Programs like the Queensland Transport Roads and Investment Program 2018-19 to 2021-22 outlines $21.7 billion in transport and road infrastructure over the next four years, estimated to support an average of 19,200 direct jobs over the life of the program,” he said.

“We are also unlocking capacity constraints in the transport network by investing in Cross River Rail, the biggest state funded infrastructure commitment in more than a decade.”

Mr Dick said it aligns with the latest state budget, which included a total of $45.8 billion spent on infrastructure over four years, an increase of $3 billion from last year.

“The State Infrastructure Plan and the Building Queensland Infrastructure Pipeline provide clear and transparent information to business and the community about what is funded in the budget, like the Kingaroy Hospital redevelopment, and what is in the planning phase.

“Through our State Infrastructure Plan we are ensuring the right infrastructure is delivered at the right time, in the right place, to the benefit of all Queenslanders.

“This annual update of the State Infrastructure Plan outlines our Government’s $11.6 billion infrastructure investment in 2018-19, which will support up to 38,000 jobs.”

Mr Dick said Cross River Rail is being delivered in partnership with the private sector and will provide a turn-up-and-go transport system benefiting all of South East Queensland.

“As a government for all of Queensland we are ensuring infrastructure is also being delivered right across the state, with 65 per cent of our infrastructure budget allocated to outside of the greater Brisbane area,” he said.

“It has already improved the way infrastructure planning is coordinated across government and means projects get on and go faster, which highlights the role our Government plays in facilitating development and boosting growth industries such as tourism and renewable energy.”

Mr Dick said the state government is also driving economic development and jobs throughout Queensland by funding and facilitating both small and large-scale regional infrastructure.

“Programs such as Building our Regions, has already allocated $225 million across 174 projects in 62 local government areas, supporting the creation of 1762 jobs,” Mr Dick said.

“Building our Regions is also funding the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme worth $150 million and this program is having a significant impact in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities where primary access infrastructure is being upgraded.

“Works for Queensland, a $600 million program, has more than 1350 projects that have been approved to date.

To read the State Infrastructure Plan, click here.