Queensland’s $30 billion funding bid for road and rail projects

Queensland has outlined a $30 billion list of road and rail projects in a funding submission to the Federal Government.

The projects are specified in Queensland’s AusLink Network Forward Strategy for the five-year period 2009-14.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today the strategy was an assessment of necessary work on the national transport network in Queensland. It highlighted new projects and maintenance needs across the state.

Included in the strategy is $23.5 billion in road projects and $6.5 billion in rail projects.

Mr Pitt said the scale of the Queensland submission highlighted the inadequacy of Federal Government funding for national road and rail infrastructure in Queensland – both historically and currently.

“While I realise that not all of these projects will receive federal funding, the list demonstrates how Queensland has suffered from chronic underfunding.

“I’m aware that the Queensland submission is almost twice the amount of money currently announced as being available for distribution nationally.

“However, this is not a reason not to nominate those projects that require funding. This is not a wish list. It is a needs list – an assessment of the essential work that needs to be done.

“If we were only to nominate projects to match the funding likely to be available, then we would be saying, in effect, that other much-needed projects did not merit inclusion on the list. This is plainly not the case.

“The next step will be to enter into negotiations with the Federal Government, and as part of that process jointly-agreed priorities will need to be identified.”

Mr Pitt said the strategy reflected the short and long-term deficiencies in the AusLink national network identified in the joint Commonwealth-state government AusLink Corridor Strategies.

“The Queensland submission is specifically designed to address deficiencies relating to transport network performance, safety, productivity, economic performance, asset preservation and associated community amenity outcomes including environmental.

“All of these road and rail projects are necessary for Queensland, from the Pacific Motorway at Nerang, north to Cairns and the Cape, and west to Mount Isa.

“These are all essential transport projects on the national network, and are needed to manage Queensland’s growth and support the national economy.”

Mr Pitt said the Queensland and Commonwealth governments now needed to work together to progress the negotiations on AusLink 2, including negotiations on which projects would be funded first.

“All of these projects are on the national AusLink network, and many are on the former national highway system, which, traditionally, the Commonwealth Government has funded in full.

"Queensland, and especially south east Queensland, is the fastest growth area of Australia. This is Australia’s economic powerhouse and the Commonwealth government needs to invest in building on this growth to benefit the entire nation.

“The State Government is doing more than its fair share. With more than 25 per cent of the total vehicle kilometres travelled on the AusLink highway, Queensland is expecting a fair share of funds from AusLink 2.

“Funds are urgently needed to address past underfunding, as well as to meet the needs of today," Mr Pitt said.

“Similarly, Queensland’s share of national rail funding under AusLink1 was virtually nothing, and this needs to be redressed under AusLink 2.”

"Even after a special bid from Queensland, the Commonwealth’s share of rail spending in our state amounts to less than 2.4 per cent of their national rail spending.

“Canberra has also slashed the maintenance budget for its own road network in Queensland to $63 million, down from $66 million, at a time when construction costs are rising by up to 15 per cent a year.

“The respected Macquarie Bank has also recognised the Commonwealth Government's underfunding of transport infrastructure by reporting that net payments to the states are at a three decade low, despite Canberra being awash with surplus cash.

"Queensland recognises that the critical need for long-term infrastructure is good planning. AusLink highlights the need to fund both preliminary corridor planning and also the need for detailed planning of specific projects.

"As this planning progresses at the corridor and project level, and firmer cost estimates then become possible, Queensland will continue to update the AusLink forward strategy program.

"Once that work is done, all parties need to commit to delivery of an agreed program of works," Mr Pitt said.

A copy of the submission is available on the Main Roads website at www.mainroads.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8851