Published Thursday, 10 January, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Townsville Port Access Road another step closer
Townsville’s Port Access Road has moved a step closer to realisation with tenders currently being reviewed for the full design and construction by the Department of Main Roads.
The Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, and the Queensland Main Roads Minister, Warren Pitt, today welcomed the recent Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts approval and announced that the Queensland Government would immediately progress the project’s design phase.
The timing of the port road construction will be the subject of ongoing discussions between the federal and State governments.
The Port Access Road will be built as a two-lane highway initially, including a rail overpass as part of the Stuart Bypass and bridges over Sandfly Creek and Ross River.
Mr Pitt said preliminary design was well under way. Tenders for the full design and construction of the Townsville Port Access Road closed last month.
“Main Roads has made solid progress on necessary land acquisitions, with land already acquired for the 2.5km Stuart Bypass, and acquisition for the 7.5km Eastern Access Corridor in the final negotiation stage,” he said.
Mr Albanese said the Port Access Road would provide the infrastructure needed to support Queensland’s booming mining industry and exports through the Townsville Port.
“The Rudd Labor Government is committed to bringing more jobs to Townsville and northern Australia.
“We want to take more of North Queensland’s minerals, produce and manufacturing to the rest of the world.
“The Port Access Road will help bring more jobs to Townsville and take more exports out of Townsville.
“A federal funding commitment for the new port road reinforces the Rudd Government’s ‘new deal’ to better integrate Australia’s strategic road rail and port infrastructure.
“The focus will be on economic and productivity gains from improved export supply chains, including those in regional areas where much of Australia’s export wealth is generated.
“The environmental approval means the Townsville Port Access Road can proceed under conditions that will help preserve the heritage and natural attributes of the Eastern Corridor,” Mr Albanese said.
Mr Pitt said this would involve the State and local governments establishing a 530-hectare environmental reserve to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats, which would also give the community access for fishing and recreation via boardwalks, information stations and walking trails.
Main Roads will work closely with major stakeholders during the design stages and will broaden its public consultation this year.
Adjacent residents will be contacted first, to be followed by public displays so that the broader community can understand the concept and provide feedback.
Media enquiries: Mr Albanese’s office –Moksha Watts 0413 389 070
Mr Pitt’s office – (07) 3227 8819
The Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, and the Queensland Main Roads Minister, Warren Pitt, today welcomed the recent Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts approval and announced that the Queensland Government would immediately progress the project’s design phase.
The timing of the port road construction will be the subject of ongoing discussions between the federal and State governments.
The Port Access Road will be built as a two-lane highway initially, including a rail overpass as part of the Stuart Bypass and bridges over Sandfly Creek and Ross River.
Mr Pitt said preliminary design was well under way. Tenders for the full design and construction of the Townsville Port Access Road closed last month.
“Main Roads has made solid progress on necessary land acquisitions, with land already acquired for the 2.5km Stuart Bypass, and acquisition for the 7.5km Eastern Access Corridor in the final negotiation stage,” he said.
Mr Albanese said the Port Access Road would provide the infrastructure needed to support Queensland’s booming mining industry and exports through the Townsville Port.
“The Rudd Labor Government is committed to bringing more jobs to Townsville and northern Australia.
“We want to take more of North Queensland’s minerals, produce and manufacturing to the rest of the world.
“The Port Access Road will help bring more jobs to Townsville and take more exports out of Townsville.
“A federal funding commitment for the new port road reinforces the Rudd Government’s ‘new deal’ to better integrate Australia’s strategic road rail and port infrastructure.
“The focus will be on economic and productivity gains from improved export supply chains, including those in regional areas where much of Australia’s export wealth is generated.
“The environmental approval means the Townsville Port Access Road can proceed under conditions that will help preserve the heritage and natural attributes of the Eastern Corridor,” Mr Albanese said.
Mr Pitt said this would involve the State and local governments establishing a 530-hectare environmental reserve to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats, which would also give the community access for fishing and recreation via boardwalks, information stations and walking trails.
Main Roads will work closely with major stakeholders during the design stages and will broaden its public consultation this year.
Adjacent residents will be contacted first, to be followed by public displays so that the broader community can understand the concept and provide feedback.
Media enquiries: Mr Albanese’s office –Moksha Watts 0413 389 070
Mr Pitt’s office – (07) 3227 8819