Budget delivers record funding boost for roads and transport

The Palaszczuk Government is delivering record funding for road and transport projects in the 2016-17 State Budget, investing more than $20 billion over four years.

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe and Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports Mark Bailey said the program was the largest in five years and would support more than 15,900 jobs over the next four years.

Mr Hinchliffe said the $20.02 billion funding under the Queensland Transport and Road Investment Program (QTRIP) was a massive investment in Queensland’s transport future and job creation.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s investment in roads, rail, marine, public transport and active transport infrastructure will support more than 15,900 jobs over the life of the program,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“We’re investing $4.38 billion in the coming 2016-17 financial year alone to advance our state and ensure we have the infrastructure to plan for future growth.

“The 2016-17 Budget delivers a better public transport system for South East Queensland and includes a $50 million funding injection for Queensland’s number-one infrastructure priority project, Cross River Rail, to take the project to the next level.

“In order to prepare for Cross River Rail the Budget also delivers $634 million for stage one of the project, a new European Train Control System (ETCS), which will improve network capacity and allow more trains and commuters on our network.”

Mr Bailey said the Budget included an additional $90 million over three years to the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) to upgrade and build local infrastructure regional communities.

“This program provides much needed support for local infrastructure and jobs, when jobs and job security are more important than ever,” Mr Bailey said.

“This boost takes our TIDS investment to $70 million per year to upgrade road infrastructure of regional significance and support jobs throughout rural and regional Queensland.”

“We’re also investing $89 million for road safety programs, road accident injury rehabilitation and safety upgrades, funded through the Camera Detected Offence Program (CDOP).

“Reducing the road toll is one of our top priorities and that’s why we invest this money back into targeted projects that will save Queenslanders lives.”

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government’s Budget showed major funding for road projects throughout Queensland.

“We’re providing an additional $96.5 million towards a number of projects in Northern Queensland, including $76.9 million to upgrade the Gregory Developmental Road and Cape River Bridge and $19.6 million to contribute to sealing the Hann Highway.”

Media contacts:

Minister Hinchliffe Jessica Hill 0475 950 772

Minister Bailey Anna Jabour 0429 890 942

Highlights:
• Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) - $20.02 billion over four years ($4.6 billion for 2016-17 year)
• Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) - an additional $90 million over three years from 2017-18
• Camera Detected Offences Program (CDOP) – $89 million for road safety programs over three years from 2016-17
• Transport and Tourism Connections program - $10 million


QTRIP Projects: 
• Toowoomba Range Crossing - $1.6 billion
• Four-lane realignment of Bruce Highway from Traveston Road to Keefton Road, Gympie, Cooroy to Curra (Section C) – $384.2 million
• Townsville Ring Road - $200 million
• Ipswich Motorway (Rocklea to Darra) Stage 1 - $88.4 million towards
• Gregory Developmental Road, including Cape River Bridge - $76.9 million
• Cross River Rail Delivery Authority - $50 million
• M1 – Gateway Motorway merge upgrade (southbound lanes) – $42 million
• Hann Highway - $19.6 million
• Transport and Tourism Connections program - $10 million