Budget keeps economy moving

More than half-a-billion dollars will be invested in Queensland’s rail freight and port infrastructure to keep the economy moving.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, said the 2007-08 State Budget includes money for new and refurbished coal wagons and locomotives.

“The Queensland Government will lay extra track across the central Queensland coalfields coupled with the ongoing expansion of busy export ports," Mr Lucas said.

“We’re adding additional capacity where its needed most to bolster the foundations of Queensland’s multi-billion dollar export industries.

“The state’s world-class transport infrastructure is proving a solid platform for the continued strong growth of coal, minerals and other export industries.

“It means jobs and a resilient economy.

"This year the Beattie Government is committing an extra 24.4 percent to transport infrastructure funding state-wide with a clear focus on critical freight networks.

"The coal export capacity of Queensland’s ports are expected to 213 million tonnes per year by the end of 2007 – that’s a 33 percent increase since 2005.

“Our ongoing infrastructure investment ensures Queensland remains a global player in a competitive export environment."

Mr Lucas said the budget will provide major enhancements to the freight network across metropolitan Brisbane and the south-east corner as well as regional areas in the midst of the mining boom.

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Highlights in the south-east include:

· $212.6 million for the ongoing expansion of the Port of Brisbane - Australia’s third busiest container port and the fastest growing capital city port in the country

· $25 million to plan and design a third track from Corinda to Darra

· $15 million worth of improvements, including better signalling and replacement of timber with concrete sleepers, to boost freight capacity in metropolitan Brisbane

· $15 million to progress detailed planning for a second track between Beerburrum and Landsborough

· $1 million to continue detailed planning on a new high-speed rail alignment between Landsborough and Nambour.

In regional Queensland, highlights include:

· $163.4 million for 15 new and 39 upgraded locomotives and 250 new and 130 overhauled wagons to carry more coal in central Queensland

· $187.6 million for trackwork on the CQ coal rail network to make it more efficient. This includes:

· $42 million for another track between Broadlea and Wotonga on the Goonyella coal rail network west of Mackay

· $29.8 million towards building a third rail loop at the Dalrymple Bay CoalTerminal near Mackay.

· $43.9 million for another track between Blackwater and Burngrove and from Westwood to Wycarbah on the Blackwater rail system west of Gladstone

· $10.9 million tobuild a loop on the rail line at the Sonoma coal mine south of Collinsville

· $5 million towards the planning and construction of the 69 km, $19 million Northern Missing Link between the Goonyella rail network and the Newlands network linked to Abbot Point Coal Terminal

· $103 million to take the Port of Gladstone to its full capacity of 68 million tonnes a year of coal exports. Gladstone is already Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port with total throughput in 2005-06 of more than 67 million tonnes of freight

· $28 million at Abbot Point Coal Terminal near Bowen to continue the $116 million project to increase its capacity to 21 million tonnes per year

· $18.5 million to complete the $63.4 million, four-year upgrade of the Mt Isa to Townsville line

 $6.9 million at the Port of Townsville for preliminary investigations into potential port expansion, an upgraded high voltage power line and other improvements.