Ministerial Statement: Connecting Queensland with QTRIP

[ozbob]

Minister for Main Roads
The Honourable Craig Wallace
25/11/2010

Connecting Queensland with QTRIP

A total of $17 billion worth of projects has been given the green light to go ahead under the State Government's four-year plan for road and transport infrastructure in Queensland.

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace and Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today released the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) - a four-year forward program of works for public transport, bikeways and roads.

"No other Australian state has a program of works four years ahead to meet the road and transport needs of the future," Mr Wallace said.

"It's about planning for growth, putting the right infrastructure in place so we can attract people to Queensland and build our economy and our future.

Mr Wallace said QTRIP would ensure Queensland kept its foot on the pedal investing in transport and road projects at a crucial time for a recovering economy.

"It gives business the certainty they need to plan ahead with confidence when economic development, jobs and job security are more important than ever," he said.

"This year, we've committed $6 million to strengthen Queensland's economy, carry out an ambitious road and transport building program and generate jobs for 55,000 workers in transport and road construction," he said.

The Minister said QTRIP included $30 million in 2010-11 for a Regional Safety and Development Program.

"I was born and bred in the north and I understand the importance of regional infrastructure to economic growth, particularly in the mining regions.

"Safety and maintenance are the keys to a strong regional network and this funding means jobs for workers on safety projects in regional Queensland," he said.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said $11.55 million would be spent to boost safety across Queensland's school bus fleet.

"As well, there's $3.56 million in QTRIP on safety initiatives for ships and boats including pilotage for regional ports and other navigation aids," Ms Nolan said.

QTRIP projects include:

·Continuing detailed feasibility planning for the Cross River Rail capacity upgrade;

·Extending the Northern Busway to Kedron, and the Eastern Busway to Coorparoo;

·Strategic planning and community consultation for the Sunshine Coast multi-modal corridor;

·Stage one of the Darra-Springfield Corridor, including a new railway connection from Darra to Richlands and duplication of the Centenary Highway from the Ipswich Motorway to the Logan Motorway at Carole Park;

·Developing a preferred option for future upgrades of Cairns' southern approaches, including bus, motor vehicle, rail corridor, and pedestrian and cycle access;

·Continuing design for a high-standard, four-lane southern approach to Townsville on the Bruce Highway. The first section will extend 7.5km to Cluden, and planning is underway on further sections to the south;

·Beginning the next stage of a $148 million project to replace the Forgan Bridge across the Pioneer River. Stage two involves replacing the existing bridge with a new two-lane bridge to provide pedestrian and cycle facilities;

·Constructing the $613 million new alignment of the Bruce Highway south of Gympie between Sankeys Road and Traveston Crossing Road, as part of the planned Cooroy to Curra project;

·Constructing a $158 million project to upgrade the Pacific Motorway; between Nerang and Worongary, part of the $420 million commitment to upgrade the motorway between Nerang and Tugun, jointly funded by the Queensland Government and Australian Government.

==============================================================