MASSIVE $2.3B PRICETAG FOR IPSWICH BYPASS MUST NOT MEAN LESS FOR NORTH QUEENSLAND ROADS

Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland Craig Wallace today said a massively expensive plan for a $2.3 billion Ipswich Motorway bypass could take funding from the Bruce Highway in North Queensland.

Mr Wallace said the Howard Government could save $1.2 billion by going with the superior and more cost-effective Queensland Government plan to upgrade the existing motorway at a cost of $1.1 billion.

“John Howard must guarantee that North Queensland will not lose out because of this hugely expensive bypass for Ipswich,” Mr Wallace said.

“The $1.2 billion saved by upgrading the existing motorway could instead go on more flood mitigation on the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Cairns,” he said.

“Around $90 million could go to the Townsville Port Access Road and $40 million could go to the Mt Low turnoff.”

Mr Wallace said the Howard Government was expected to announce funding under its AusLink II road-funding program in the near future.

“However, the funding announced for the Ipswich Motorway bypass will take a huge chunk out of Queensland’s Auslink II allocation,” he said.

“No one in Queensland begrudges the people of Ipswich getting a great new road to replace the goat-track of the Ipswich Motorway.

“However, $1.2 billion too much is being spent simply to save the necks of Coalition MPs who refused to back the much better Queensland Main Roads plan because it was not their idea.”

Mr Wallace said it was now up to the Member for Herbert, Peter Lindsay, to ensure North Queensland Commonwealth-funded roads got their fair share of AusLink funds.

Around 11 mayors from the State’s North will meet on March 16 in the State Government’s offices in Townsville to discuss Commonwealth road funding for the State’s north.

Craig Wallace said it was hoped that AusLink II would fund a priority list of North Queensland roadworks including:

• Expenditure of at least $2.8 billion on the Bruce Highway along the entire length between Caboolture and Cairns.
• Four-laning along the entire length of the Bruce Highway.
• Flood proofing of the highway between Townsville and Cairns
• $95 million for the Townsville Port Access Road
• $40 million for the Mt Low turnoff
• Upgrading the Bruce Highway through the CardwellRange.

“The very large amount of cash now going to the Ipswich Motorway bypass now makes the mayors’ task of getting decent road funding much harder,” Mr Wallace said.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.