Published Thursday, 05 June, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Five-year plan for north Queensland roads
Improving regional road networks is the focus for road funding in north Queensland, as part of a record $16.2 billion five-year roads program released by the Bligh Government today.
The Roads Implementation Program 2008-09 to 2012-13 outlines a $16.2 billion infrastructure investment for Queensland's roads over the next five years, including $1 billion for north Queensland road projects.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the program—a 22 per cent increase on last year's program—highlighted record funding for regional, rural and remote areas of the state.
“The latest Roads Implementation Program looks over the horizon as part of our longer-term planning for the future of our state’s road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“This government is building tomorrow’s Queensland today and we have allocated a record funding program to achieve this objective,” he said.
“This record funding includes some $1 billion in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of north Queensland roads.”
The Roads Implementation Program outlines planned roadworks over a five-year timeframe, with firm funding commitments for projects in the first two years of the program, and indicative plans and allocations for the following three years.
“This unique program gives our stakeholders, clients and suppliers firm commitments they can factor into their own planning,” Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 to 2012-13 Roads Implementation Program included projects outlined in this week’s 2008-09 State Budget, as well as road projects commencing in 2009-10 and beyond.
North Queensland project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $11.8 million to widen a further 60km of narrow seal on the Gregory Developmental Road between Charters Towers and The Lynd
• $5.5 million to construct a new road through Idalia between Oonoonba Road and River Boulevard
• $1 million to rehabilitate the Macrossan River Bridge on the Flinders Highway
• $650,000 to undertake planning for an upgrade of the Bruce Highway from Sandy Corner to Collinsons Lagoon.
Local roads will also benefit, with $3.5 million in allocations for regional councils under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in 2009-10.
The TIDS program allows local government to access state government funding to help fund projects on local roads.
TIDS allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $620,500 for Townsville City Council for pavement rehabilitation on Charles Street from Fulham Road to Anne Street in Aitkenvale
• $300,000 for Burdekin Shire Council to widen and seal a section of Groper Creek Road, east of Home Hill
• $200,000 for Charters Towers Regional Council for drainage improvements on the Laroona-Hidden Valley Road, 73km north-east of Townsville
• $190,000 for Charters Towers Regional Council for bitumen chip reseal on Mt Fox Road, 18km west of Paluma
• $100,000 for Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council for bitumen chip reseal on various roads on Palm Island
• $100,000 for Townsville City Council for footpaths in the Annandale area
• $87,500 for Cassowary Coast Regional Council to replace a bridge and approaches on Wheatley Road, Wongaling Beach.
The five-year program also confirms north Queensland projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09, including:
• a $119 million project to complete Stages 2 and 3 of the Townsville Ring Road this year
• a $50 million project on the federally-funded Bruce Highway upgrade north of Townsville between Woodlands Shopping Centre and Veales Road, which started in April this year
• a $19 million project to duplicate the remaining section of North Ward Road between Walker and Gregory Street to four lanes.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The Roads Implementation Program 2008-09 to 2012-13 outlines a $16.2 billion infrastructure investment for Queensland's roads over the next five years, including $1 billion for north Queensland road projects.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the program—a 22 per cent increase on last year's program—highlighted record funding for regional, rural and remote areas of the state.
“The latest Roads Implementation Program looks over the horizon as part of our longer-term planning for the future of our state’s road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“This government is building tomorrow’s Queensland today and we have allocated a record funding program to achieve this objective,” he said.
“This record funding includes some $1 billion in projects that will improve the safety, capacity and reliability of north Queensland roads.”
The Roads Implementation Program outlines planned roadworks over a five-year timeframe, with firm funding commitments for projects in the first two years of the program, and indicative plans and allocations for the following three years.
“This unique program gives our stakeholders, clients and suppliers firm commitments they can factor into their own planning,” Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the 2008-09 to 2012-13 Roads Implementation Program included projects outlined in this week’s 2008-09 State Budget, as well as road projects commencing in 2009-10 and beyond.
North Queensland project allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $11.8 million to widen a further 60km of narrow seal on the Gregory Developmental Road between Charters Towers and The Lynd
• $5.5 million to construct a new road through Idalia between Oonoonba Road and River Boulevard
• $1 million to rehabilitate the Macrossan River Bridge on the Flinders Highway
• $650,000 to undertake planning for an upgrade of the Bruce Highway from Sandy Corner to Collinsons Lagoon.
Local roads will also benefit, with $3.5 million in allocations for regional councils under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) in 2009-10.
The TIDS program allows local government to access state government funding to help fund projects on local roads.
TIDS allocations for 2009-10 include:
• $620,500 for Townsville City Council for pavement rehabilitation on Charles Street from Fulham Road to Anne Street in Aitkenvale
• $300,000 for Burdekin Shire Council to widen and seal a section of Groper Creek Road, east of Home Hill
• $200,000 for Charters Towers Regional Council for drainage improvements on the Laroona-Hidden Valley Road, 73km north-east of Townsville
• $190,000 for Charters Towers Regional Council for bitumen chip reseal on Mt Fox Road, 18km west of Paluma
• $100,000 for Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council for bitumen chip reseal on various roads on Palm Island
• $100,000 for Townsville City Council for footpaths in the Annandale area
• $87,500 for Cassowary Coast Regional Council to replace a bridge and approaches on Wheatley Road, Wongaling Beach.
The five-year program also confirms north Queensland projects announced as part of a record roads budget for 2008-09, including:
• a $119 million project to complete Stages 2 and 3 of the Townsville Ring Road this year
• a $50 million project on the federally-funded Bruce Highway upgrade north of Townsville between Woodlands Shopping Centre and Veales Road, which started in April this year
• a $19 million project to duplicate the remaining section of North Ward Road between Walker and Gregory Street to four lanes.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819