Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 08:11 PM

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas

TRANSPORT BUDGET KEEPS COAL NETWORKS MOVING

The coal industry and local road users are the big winners in today's 2007-08 State Budget with its multi-million dollar transport injection for Mackay-Whitsunday.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas said the budget would boost the rail and port networks that keep the coal industry moving and deliver $90 million for key local road and bridge projects.

“World-class transport infrastructure provides a solid platform for the continued strong growth of our export coal industry and the jobs and funds it generates for Queenslanders,” Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas today also released details of the new record five-year, $13.3 billion Roads Implementation Program (RIP), with funding of $304 million programmed over the next five years in Mackay-Whitsunday.

"Mackay is a major growth region in Queensland and the Beattie Government is committed to providing infrastructure for this booming area," he said.

Major Budget allocations for the Mackay-Whitsunday region include:

  • $42 million to duplicate track between Broadlea & Wotonga rail sidings on the Goonyella coal rail network west of Mackay.
  • $28 million to continue the $116 million expansion at Abbot Point to increase its capacity to 21 million tonnes per year.
  • $23 million to improve staging facilities for loaded coal trains at the Coppabella Railyard.
  • $15.4 million towards the $33.6 million project to replace Hospital Bridge.
  • $15.18 million towards the $70.9 million project to duplicate Forgan Bridge.
  • $7.9 million to strengthen the overhead electrical system for trains on the Goonyella coal network, including building a new substation at Mindi.
  • $6.51 million towards the $8 million project to replace Sandy Creek Bridge on Homebush Road.
  • $6.27 million to start work on the $14.2 million Joint Levee Road upgrade between Sams Road and Barnes Creek Road.
  • $5 million for planning for the 69km Northern Missing Link between the Goonyella rail network and the Newlands network linked to Abbot Point Coal Terminal.
  • More than $3.8 million local government to help fund council roads projects.
  • $300,000 to install new radar at Hay Point Coal Terminal south of Mackay to improve monitoring of shipping traffic and safety.

Commercial shipping and recreational boaties are also winners with projects funded at ports and boating facilities along the coast and in the islands. These include:

  • $2.5 million to carry out drainage works and land subdivision by the Mackay Port Authority.
  • $1.5 million to build a new quarantine waste facility at the Port of Mackay to dispose of waste from incoming ships.
  • $3.2 million to upgrade the Brampton Island and Lindeman Island jetties, continue the Bowen Boat Harbour long term dredging strategy, replace the Starboard Road pontoon at the Bowen State Boat Harbour, add a lane to the two-lane Victor Creek boat ramp at Seaforth, north of Mackay and complete the safety upgrade of the Port Binnli Pontoon.

Media contact: Robert Hoge 3237 1942 or

Darren Roberts 3237 1947