TRANSPORT BUDGET BOOST FOR TOWNSVILLE REGION

North Queensland road users and major industry are the big winners from a multi-million dollar transport injection in today's 2007-08 State Budget.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said more than $200 million had been set aside for north Queensland roads as well as a boost for Townsville's port and the region's newest coal mine.

Mr Lucas said the transport budget for the north underpinned ongoing economic growth as well as improving the transport network for road users.

"An efficient, integrated transport network is critical to the international competitiveness of traditional industries like mining, as well as supporting Townsville emerging role as the business centre of the north," he said.

The biggest single ticket item for the north is the roads package. Highlights include:

• $17.8 million to continue widening North Ward Road
• $58.3 million on the $119 million Townsville/Thuringowa Ring Road to be completed by the end of 2008
• $10 million to start work on widening Hervey's Range Road to four lanes
• almost $10 million to continue progressive widening of the Gregory Developmental Road, mostly between Charters Towers and The Lynd
• more than $5 million in subsidies to local government for council roads.

Mr Lucas today also released details of the new record five-year, $13.3 billion Roads Implementation Program (RIP), with funding of $686 millionprogrammed over the next five years in and around Townsville.

Industry wins, with $10.9 million to build a loop on the rail line to QCoal's Sonoma Coal Mine south of Collinsville. The open cut project is due to start production this year.

Major work is programmed for the Port of Townsville, including:

• $2 million for preliminary investigations into major expansion with trade projected to increase to more than 30 million over the next 15 years.
• $3.5 million to replace old rail track and improve drainage around rail track around the port
• $1.3 million to upgrade the high voltage power line running through the port.
• A $300,000 allocation will kick-off planning and construction of a new centre to monitor shipping traffic at the Port of Townsville and through the Great Barrier Reef.

United Group Rail and its workforce benefit from major coal train contracts to upgrade electric locomotives and to manufacture 76 new wagons, all to haul central Queensland coal to port

The State Government will also invest $7.3 million to continue work to allow the sale of the former Townsville rail yards site for future redevelopment.

The Palm Island community gains better connections to the mainland with major improvements to its boat harbour and airport. The budget includes $5 million for channel dredging, a new jetty and improvement to the existing jetty head and barge ramp at the boat harbour, as well as $500,000 to continue upgrading Palm Island Airport.

Recreational boaties are not forgotten, with funds to build a new single lane boat ramp at Toomulla Beach, north of Townsville.

Pilots and passengers using Charters Towers airport will benefit from more than $112,000 to reseal the runway and install pilot-activated lighting.