Central West infrastructure boosted in new roads program

Queensland's Central West region will receive $78.6 million for roads over the next two years as part of a record $11.55 billion roads program for the state.

The latest Roads Implementation Program, launched by Premier Peter Beattie and Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas, boosts roads spending in Queensland by more than $1 billion over the next five years.

Mr Lucas said a record $11.55 billion would be spent on the state’s roads from 2006-07 to 2010-11 – a $1.05 billion or 10% increase on the previous five-year program.

The program details almost 2500 road projects that will be constructed around the state over the next five years.

“We are committed to delivering the projects that make our roads safer and help meet the needs of a growing state,” Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said the program continued a record funding boost for the Central West region.

“All up, the state and federal governments will provide a total of more than $78.6 million for roads in Queensland's Central West region over the next two years," Mr Lucas said.

Major projects to be funded this financial year and 2007-08 include:

$2.2 million funding provided by both Aramac Shire Council and the Queensland Government towards sealing a 6.5km section of the Aramac-Torrens Creek Road to provide overtaking opportunities, and to undertake paving and sealing works on other sections of the road
$1.82 million towards sealing a 10km section of the Birdsville Developmental Road between Morney and Birdsville and for sealing to provide overtaking opportunities on three other sections of the road, in Barcoo Shire and Diamantina Shire
$5.3 million towards sealing various sections of the Blackall-Jericho Road and minor realignment and installation of culverts on a further two sections
$9.5 million for eight projects towards sealing a total of 112km on the Diamantina Developmental Road
$2.86 million to seal various section including 8.5km at Moonies Grave on Eyre Developmental Road
$3.49 million for the improvement of seven sections of the Thomson Developmental Road between Jundah and Longreach and $2.1 million for sealing various sections between Windorah and Jundah, as well as $980,000 to seal four sections of the Dawson Developmental Road between Springsure and Tambo.

Capital financial assistance grants to be provided to councils for local road upgrades under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) program include:

$120,000 to Barcoo Shire Council to upgrade sections of the Jundah-Winton Road and $45,000 towards sealing streets in Windorah
$170,000 to Blackall Shire Council for the sealing of town streets and improvement to sections of Tumbar Road
$220,000 to Boulia Shire Council to pave sections of the Boulia-Tobermorey Road
$120,000 to Diamantina Shire Council to gravel part of the Birdsville-Simpson Desert Road
$295,000 to Ilfracombe Shire Council to improve and bitumen seal sections of Dandaraga Road, and to improve sections of Leichhardt Street and Racecourse Road
$322,000 to Longreach Shire Council for work on diverse projects such as sealing roads and building bikeways at the primary school and the Longreach Childcare Centre
$240,000 to Winton Shire Council to start work on sealing to provide overtaking opportunities and upgrades on the Winton-Jundah Road.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942