Palaszczuk Government delivers more record road spending and jobs for North West

Published Friday, 16 June, 2017 at 01:48 PM

Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

The Palaszczuk Government will deliver $89.3 million of road infrastructure in 2017-18 for the North West district as part of a record investment in road and transport infrastructure for the second year in a row.

Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey said the region was one of the many beneficiaries of the blockbuster roads budget announced this week and being delivered under the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP).

“The funding for North West Queensland is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s record spend on road and transport infrastructure across the state for the second year in a row, with an investment of close to $21 billion over the next four years, supporting nearly 17,000 jobs,” Mr Bailey said.

“This will include $282.5 million of works planned and supporting 324 direct jobs just for the North West alone, over the next four years.

“This budget shows our commitment to delivering key infrastructure including $16 million to pave and seal sections of the Kennedy Developmental Road and creating jobs for the North West and the entire state.”

Minister Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government reconfirmed its commitment to the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) after the previous LNP government gutted the program.

“$5.6 million will be invested in 2017-18 for the North West which means local governments will be able to fund the development of transport related infrastructure,” he said.

“This is more than a 90 per cent increase in funding compared to what the LNP committed in their last budget.”

2017-18 QTRIP major road projects for North West include:

  • $16 million in 2017-18, to pave and seal sections of the Kennedy Developmental Road between Hughenden and The Lynd, at a total cost of $50 million.
  • $7.8 million in 2017-18, to upgrade culverts on the Flinders Highway between Charters Towers and Hughenden, at a total cost of $15.3 million.
  • $5.5 million in 2017-18, to upgrade culverts on the Flinders Highway between Hughenden and Richmond, at a total cost of $9.8 million.

Minister Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to continuing our record investment, building our roads network, boosting productivity, future proofing the state, creating jobs and fostering economic growth.

“We’re repairing the damage done by the LNP who slashed roads funding by $600 million and stalled road infrastructure across Queensland,” he said.

ENDS

Media contact: Zoe Russell – 0428 079 640