Atherton Tablelands road receives an upgrade

Drivers will no longer have to wait to pass over Limestone Creek causeway thanks to a significant upgrade being funded through the Queensland Government’s $495 million Royalties for the Regions program.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the government had committed $440,000 to Tablelands Regional Council to realign and upgrade the causeway to dual lanes.

“Through the Royalties for the Regions program the Queensland Government is sharing royalties earned by the resource sector with regional communities to provide better infrastructure,” Mr Seeney said.

“Funding of regional road projects like this demonstrates that we have a strong plan for a brighter future for regional Queensland.

“In contrast Labor ignored the regions and still has no plan to improve funding and provide the necessary infrastructure.

“The funding will ensure the single-lane Limestone Creek causeway is removed and replaced with a dual-lane reinforced box culvert structure.

“This will improve the road for residents and workers accessing MGT Resource’s tin mine.”

Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Rosa Lee Long said the announcement of funding to upgrade Limestone Creek causeway was very welcome news.

“Our region’s economy relies very heavily on the road network, both for the ongoing development of primary production and also for the expansion of tourism,” Ms Lee Long said.

“The Limestone Creek causeway is an important part of that road network and this funding will deliver a far more resilient, reliable and functional service to road users and the wider community and I thank the Deputy Premier for his commitment to our region.”

For more information about the Queensland Government’s Royalties for the Regions program visit http://www.qld.gov.au/royalties

[ENDS] 23 May 2014

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744