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

The Palaszczuk Government will deliver $61.6 million of road infrastructure in 2017-18 for the South 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 South West 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 South West 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 $226.7 millionof works planned and supporting 270 jobs just for South West alone, over the next four years.

“This budget shows our commitment to delivering key infrastructure and creating jobs for the people of South West and the entire state.

“This includes $6.3 million allocated this financial year to widen the pavement on the Carnarvon Highway between St George and Surat Road, at a total cost of $16.5 million.

“We will also commence $1.2 million of works paving and sealing a missing link of Innamincka Road, linking with the Dig Tree Heritage site, Birdsville races, Innamincka National Park and the Strzelecki Track jointly funded with Balloo Shire Council.”

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

“$6.6 million will be invested in 2017-18 for the South 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 Projects for South West include:

• $6.3 million in 2017-18, to widen the pavement on the Carnarvon Highway, St George-Surat, at a total cost of $16.5 million.
• $4.6 million in 2017-18, to widen the pavement on the Carnarvon Highway, Injune-Rolleston, at a total cost of $12 million.
• $1 million in 2017-18, replacing culverts on the Hungerford Road, Hungerford, at a total cost of $1.1 million.
• $600,000 in 2017-18, paving and sealing a missing link of Innamincka Road, at a cost of $1.2 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