Record $968 million keeps Sunshine Coast moving

The State Government will give the booming Sunshine Coast region a $968 million roads funding boost over the next five years as part of a record $13.3 billion roads program for Queensland announced today.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, today launched the latest five-year Roads Implementation Program, which delivers a massive $1.75 billion, or 15% increase on last year.

“Almost 2,500 road projects are contained in the program, including 99 new projects, to be built statewide over the next five years.

"The funding boost is even more impressive when you compare the estimated expenditure over the next five years with spending over the past five years.

“It’s a total increase of $5.3 billion over five years, or 67 per cent to keep Queensland moving and booming,'' Mr Lucas said.

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

Mr Lucas said the Beattie Government's program continues record funding for Sunshine Coast roads.

“The Sunshine Coast needs an ongoing injection of funds to put in place the road infrastructure to meet rapid growth.

“This program delivers the dollars needed to address demand.

“All up, the Queensland and Australian governments will provide a total of more than $560 million for Sunshine Coast road projects within Caloundra City, Maroochy, Noosa and Cooloola shires over the next two years.

“This compares with $81 million in the two-year plan that was in place when the Beattie Government came to power in 1998,” Mr Lucas said.

Key projects funded this financial year and 2008-09 financial years include:

A total of $194.4 million to advance and complete construction of four projects on the Sunshine Motorway including:

• Four-lane construction from Sippy Downs to Kawana Way and a new interchange with local network connections at Dixon and Claymore roads to improve safe access to Sunshine Coast University and adjoining schools.
• Four-lane construction from Maroochydore Road to Pacific Paradise including a second Maroochy River Bridge.
• Construction of the Pacific Paradise interchange with connections to David Low Way.
• Completion of the Maroochy Boulevard interchange project with connections to the new southern access into Maroochydore's CBD. (This project also has Maroochy Shire Council and private sector funding).

Other Sunshine Coast projects over the next two years include:

• $55.7 million to continue four-lane upgrading of the two-lane section of Caloundra Road between the Bruce Highway and Little Mountain.
• $42.6 million to continue work on a new, $90 million four-lane deviation on Maroochydore Road, running east from the Bruce Highway to Pike Street, Kunda Park, to replace a rough, flood- prone two-lane road.
• $36.3 million to complete work on the $75 million first stage of the new Caloundra-Mooloolaba arterial road.
• 2 projects worth $15.4 million for Eumundi – Kenilworth Road - $10.4 million to construct the bridge and approaches at Belli Creek Crossing No 2, scheduled start mid 2008, finish mid 2009. $500,000 as part of $5 million widening from Archer road to Belli Ck Crossing No.1, due to start mid 2009 and finish mid 2010.

Media Contact: Darren Roberts 3237 1947/ 0448 184566.