Published Tuesday, 03 June, 2008 at 04:45 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
State Budget boost for Warwick and Goondiwindi roads
Continuing an upgrade of the Millmerran-Inglewood Road would be a highlight of funding for the Warwick region in a record allocation in the 2008-09 State Budget for roads, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
The funding is part of a record $3.235 billion commitment towards roads in the 2008-09 Budget that will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans.
Mr Pitt said the investment in the Warwick and Goondiwindi areas would help improve safety and access for local residents and interstate freight operators.
“The 2008-09 Budget allocates $3.73 million to complete widening and overlay work for the Millmerran-Inglewood Road that will bring the road to a more suitable standard for road trains and other freight-efficient vehicles,” Mr Pitt said.
“The road is used extensively to transport grain from on-farm storage to grain depots and feedlots, as well as cattle from feedlots to abattoirs.
“It is also a major connector between the 50,000-head cattle feedlot at Whyalla, west of Texas, and meat processing works at Oakey and Purrawunda.
“Widening sections of the strategic link between the Darling Downs and northern New South Wales will improve access for heavy vehicles, while providing a smoother bitumen surface will make freight and livestock transport safer and more efficient.”
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 Budget would also provide for motorist and pedestrian safety measures for the region.
“Another $2.5 million has been directed towards a crossing to separate students from traffic at St Mary’s Primary School on Palmerin Street, as part of a project that is expected to cost $7.5 million,” Mr Pitt said.
“Three options for an underpass or overpass are being developed, and a final recommendation from the project board, which has representatives from the school, Main Roads and local government, is expected this month.”
Other projects funded in the 2008-09 State Budget include:
• $1.917 million for projects on the Leichhardt Highway, including $1.04 million to rehabilitate and widen the highway 24km north of Goondiwindi
• $1.84 million to replace the bridge and approaches at Oaky Creek on the Inglewood-Texas Road, 10km north of Texas
• $1.09 million to widen and seal a section of the Cunningham Highway, about 9km east of Inglewood
• $1 million to widen shoulders and seal sections of the Barwon Highway, 5km west of Toobeah
• $962,000 for driver fatigue measures on the Cunningham Highway, 25km east of Goondiwindi
• $692,000 to widen and overlay a section of the Cunningham Highway, 32km west of Warwick
• $639,000 in federal funding to complete an upgrade of the Fisher Park West section of the Cunningham Highway, at a total estimated cost of $6.9 million.
Mr Pitt said new regional councils would also benefit, with funds provided under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).
TIDS is a program that allows local government to access State Government funding for projects on local roads.
Projects funded under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) include:
• $150,000 for Goondiwindi Regional Council to reconstruct the road surface on a section of Tobacco Road, 1km south of Inglewood
• $240,000 for Goondiwindi Regional Council to reconstruct the road surface on a section of the Talwood-Mungindi Road
• $200,000 for Southern Downs Regional Council to rehabilitate and widen a section of Willowvale Road, 12km north of Warwick
• $169,000 for Southern Downs Regional Council towards the replacement of a bridge on the Inveramsay Road, 16km east of Allora
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The funding is part of a record $3.235 billion commitment towards roads in the 2008-09 Budget that will drive progress on the Queensland Government’s infrastructure plans.
Mr Pitt said the investment in the Warwick and Goondiwindi areas would help improve safety and access for local residents and interstate freight operators.
“The 2008-09 Budget allocates $3.73 million to complete widening and overlay work for the Millmerran-Inglewood Road that will bring the road to a more suitable standard for road trains and other freight-efficient vehicles,” Mr Pitt said.
“The road is used extensively to transport grain from on-farm storage to grain depots and feedlots, as well as cattle from feedlots to abattoirs.
“It is also a major connector between the 50,000-head cattle feedlot at Whyalla, west of Texas, and meat processing works at Oakey and Purrawunda.
“Widening sections of the strategic link between the Darling Downs and northern New South Wales will improve access for heavy vehicles, while providing a smoother bitumen surface will make freight and livestock transport safer and more efficient.”
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 Budget would also provide for motorist and pedestrian safety measures for the region.
“Another $2.5 million has been directed towards a crossing to separate students from traffic at St Mary’s Primary School on Palmerin Street, as part of a project that is expected to cost $7.5 million,” Mr Pitt said.
“Three options for an underpass or overpass are being developed, and a final recommendation from the project board, which has representatives from the school, Main Roads and local government, is expected this month.”
Other projects funded in the 2008-09 State Budget include:
• $1.917 million for projects on the Leichhardt Highway, including $1.04 million to rehabilitate and widen the highway 24km north of Goondiwindi
• $1.84 million to replace the bridge and approaches at Oaky Creek on the Inglewood-Texas Road, 10km north of Texas
• $1.09 million to widen and seal a section of the Cunningham Highway, about 9km east of Inglewood
• $1 million to widen shoulders and seal sections of the Barwon Highway, 5km west of Toobeah
• $962,000 for driver fatigue measures on the Cunningham Highway, 25km east of Goondiwindi
• $692,000 to widen and overlay a section of the Cunningham Highway, 32km west of Warwick
• $639,000 in federal funding to complete an upgrade of the Fisher Park West section of the Cunningham Highway, at a total estimated cost of $6.9 million.
Mr Pitt said new regional councils would also benefit, with funds provided under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS).
TIDS is a program that allows local government to access State Government funding for projects on local roads.
Projects funded under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) include:
• $150,000 for Goondiwindi Regional Council to reconstruct the road surface on a section of Tobacco Road, 1km south of Inglewood
• $240,000 for Goondiwindi Regional Council to reconstruct the road surface on a section of the Talwood-Mungindi Road
• $200,000 for Southern Downs Regional Council to rehabilitate and widen a section of Willowvale Road, 12km north of Warwick
• $169,000 for Southern Downs Regional Council towards the replacement of a bridge on the Inveramsay Road, 16km east of Allora
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819