Published Wednesday, 04 June, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Spending on Queensland’s roads to increase by $1m a day in 2008-09
The State Government’s spending on roads will increase by almost $1 million a day in 2008-09, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today.
Mr Pitt said criticism by the RACQ of spending levels in the State Budget was narrowly focussed and did not take into account overall expenditure amounts.
The total amount of spending – capital and operating – by the Department of Main Roads will reach almost $3.3 billion in 2008-09, an increase of approximately $360 million on the current financial year.
“That’s a 12.4 per cent increase, which is almost an extra $1 million a day that will be spent building, maintaining and managing our roads," Mr Pitt said.
“This level of funding clearly exceeds CPI and price increases, and reinforces the Queensland Government’s ongoing commitment to developing the State’s roads network.”
Mr Pitt said the government’s capital budget for roads outlined in the latest Budget represented a 300 per cent funding increase over the last four years.
“No one is denying that the costs of major infrastructure projects continue to increase due to the buoyant Queensland economy and high demand for new infrastructure by both the government and the private sector caused by booming population growth.
“However, Main Roads is carefully managing its project cost estimating processes and allocation of its record capital budget to ensure Queenslanders get best value for the Government’s huge level of road infrastructure expenditure.
“The Main Roads budget also includes a significant increase to roads maintenance expenditure - $31 million to $461 million – to ensure preservation of the State’s largest asset, its road network.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Mr Pitt said criticism by the RACQ of spending levels in the State Budget was narrowly focussed and did not take into account overall expenditure amounts.
The total amount of spending – capital and operating – by the Department of Main Roads will reach almost $3.3 billion in 2008-09, an increase of approximately $360 million on the current financial year.
“That’s a 12.4 per cent increase, which is almost an extra $1 million a day that will be spent building, maintaining and managing our roads," Mr Pitt said.
“This level of funding clearly exceeds CPI and price increases, and reinforces the Queensland Government’s ongoing commitment to developing the State’s roads network.”
Mr Pitt said the government’s capital budget for roads outlined in the latest Budget represented a 300 per cent funding increase over the last four years.
“No one is denying that the costs of major infrastructure projects continue to increase due to the buoyant Queensland economy and high demand for new infrastructure by both the government and the private sector caused by booming population growth.
“However, Main Roads is carefully managing its project cost estimating processes and allocation of its record capital budget to ensure Queenslanders get best value for the Government’s huge level of road infrastructure expenditure.
“The Main Roads budget also includes a significant increase to roads maintenance expenditure - $31 million to $461 million – to ensure preservation of the State’s largest asset, its road network.”
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819