INVESTING IN QUEENSLAND’S FUTURE

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas will oversee a capital expenditure budget of $2.45 billion in 2008-09 for projects that will secure Queensland’s future.

Mr Lucas said the “Year of Infrastructure Delivery” will see the Water Grid up and running, along with a continued focus on congestion busting, housing affordability measures and population growth plans.

“Queensland is moving from strength to strength, with economic growth at 5.6% year on year and an unemployment rate of 3.5% - the lowest in a generation,” said Mr Lucas.

“The challenge is embracing the benefits of growth while protecting the things that make Queensland such an attractive place to live.

“In response, there is a 79 per cent increase in the Department of Infrastructure and Planning’s operating and capital budget, up to $153.7 million.

“This budget is proof of the Bligh Government’s commitment to building tomorrow’s Queensland today and planning for future growth.”

Infrastructure

More than $2.22 billion is earmarked for South East Queensland Water Grid projects during the 2008-09 financial year.

“With the finish line in sight for major projects on the Water Grid, there’s an average of $42 million dollars a week to see them through,” said Mr Lucas.

“The Western Corridor Recycled Water Project and the Tugun Desalination Plant, along with the pipelines that will connect them to our dams, remain on track to be built by the end of the year.

“Not only will the Water Grid help us through our worst drought on record, it will put South East Queensland on the front foot to deal with population growth and climate change into the future.”

The budget includes $80 million for Airport Link, which together with the Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and the Airport Roundabout Upgrade, makes up Australia’s largest road infrastructure project.

This funding will be invested in land acquisitions, measures such as airconditioning and window glazing to mitigate the impact of construction for local schools, and procurement costs.

“These are projects that will significantly improve the quality of life for Brisbane residents,” said Mr Lucas.

“Airport link will reduce traffic on local streets by up to 40% and solve the airport roundabout bottle neck.”

Planning

Over $17 million has been allocated in this year’s budget to address housing affordability in Queensland.

“Housing affordability is a national issue that needs to be addressed at all levels of government,” Mr Lucas said.

“The Queensland Government is serious about housing affordability and I am pleased to say that we are putting our money where our mouth is.

“In 2008–09, we will spend $7.788 million on the Queensland Housing Affordability Program, an increase of more than $3.4 million.”

The Housing Affordability Strategy is a whole-of-Government strategic

approach to planning, development, land supply and infrastructure charging issues.

“It includes $2.2 million for the Queensland Competition Authority to conduct an independent and technical review of infrastructure charging,” Mr Lucas said.

“This will impact positively on housing affordability by ensuring infrastructure charges—which are transferred onto housing prices—are transparent, appropriate, and as low as possible, while ensuring the required infrastructure is provided.

“The budget also includes $9.5 million for the Urban Land Development Authority, a body that was established in 2007 as part of the Housing Affordability Strategy.

“Urban Development areas have already been declared at Bowen Hills and North Shore Hamilton.

“By March 2009, development schemes will be in place for both of these sites, which will feature a range residential, retail and commercial development, including affordable housing.

“Other sites at Fitzgibbon and Mackay will soon be declared with the first development activity expected early next year.”

South East Queensland will also be boosted by $4.7 million to develop a new transport hub, community space and office facilities for more than 1200 workers in the Ipswich city centre and $1.7 million for the SEQ Regional Plan review.

Regions

“Continued strong growth in regional areas will underpin Queensland’s future prosperity, and the Bligh Government is committed fostering this economic development through good planning,” said Mr Lucas.

There is a further funding boost to the Northern Economic Triangle Infrastructure Plan 2007-12 which identifies Mount Isa, Townsville and Bowen as centres of minerals processing and industrial development over the next fifty years.

The 2008-09 budget has allocated $1.05 million to fund industrial land, infrastructure concept planning, energy infrastructure and investment attraction.

$1.4 million will be spent by the Coal Infrastructure Taskforce to plan for a doubling in size over the next 20 years of Queensland’s coal industry, to roughly 400 million tonnes per annum.

Soon the taskforce will deliver the Queensland Coal Infrastructure Strategic Plan 2008–2028, the first plan of its kind in the state.

The Gladstone State Development Area will receive funding of $21 million to continue the process of buying and safeguarding land for future large-scale industrial development.

There is also $8.1 million funding for the nearby Stanwell to Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor, that will house underground pipelines for industry to transport water and mineral slurries and house communications cables.

“This corridor not only caters to industrial growth in both Stanwell and Gladstone, it also gives landowners a single, definite route for all of these types of pipelines,” said Mr Lucas.

Planning for Townsville’s Eastern Port Access Road will also continue with a land acquisition program costing $3.4 million in 2008-09.

“This is an important road that will improve access between the SDA and the port and remove heavy transport movements from Townsville’s suburban streets,” said Mr Lucas.

In the upcoming financial year there will also be a major rollout of industrial land across Queensland with $109.8 million allocated for planning, acquisition and development through the Property Services Group.

This includes construction of industrial estates in Coolum, Townsville, Mackay and Yandina plus land purchases in Ipswich, Far North Queensland, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton and South East Queensland.

Media contact:   Robert Hoge 0419 757 868    Matthew Klar 0437 435 223