RACQ welcomes Federal Budget's touted road and rail funding

It announced money would be set aside in tomorrow’s Federal Budget for the Bruce Highway in central Queensland, light and heavy rail on the Gold Coast, major highways in Cairns and Townsville as well as interchange and rail upgrades on the Sunshine Coast.

RACQ spokesperson Lauren Ritchie said the funding would help increase capacity on some of the State’s busiest roads, improve safety and ease congestion.

“We’ve been calling for investment in these projects for a number of years, and as recent as our pre-budget submission at the beginning of the year to the Federal Government, we’re pleased to see Canberra finally come to the party,” Ms Ritchie said

“The Bruce Highway is the State’s longest and most prominent road and this additional $400 million on top of the $800 million annual investment, which we asked for, will go a long way to improving safety and resilience to flooding along these sections of the highway, particularly around Central Queensland.

“We’re also glad to see $400 million for the Inland Freight Route from Charters Towers to the New South Wales border, to take heavy vehicles off the Bruce and improve its safety and condition.

“In addition to the major highway upgrades, a number of notorious traffic pinch points, like the Mooloolah River Interchange on the Sunshine Coast, Cairns Western Arterial Road and the Maryborough Hervey Bay and Pialba-Burrum Heads intersection look set to be winners, receiving funding for long awaited upgrades.

Ms Ritchie applauded the announcement for funding for public transport connections on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, but warned more details were still needed.

“While we welcome funding for additional work on the Beerburrum to Nambour railway duplication study, further detail is needed about when the full project will be delivered and what the funding gaps are,” she said.

“The first slab of funding for the Gold Coast Rail Line Capacity Improvement from Kuraby to Beenleigh is much needed to meet extra service frequency when Cross River Rail is opened.

“However, some sorely needed upgrades to safety and capacity along the Warrego Highway between Ipswich and Helidon, Mt Lindesay Highway and rail level crossing removals appear to not be included in this announcement today.

“Most of the projects receiving new funding rely on State support as well, so we now need the Queensland Government to come to the table. We’ll certainly be going through the Budget carefully when it’s released tomorrow night.”

The Federal Government has today announced the below funding would be included in the Budget: