$500 million funding to progressively upgrade priority roads to support QLD beef industry

The Queensland Government will progressively upgrade priority road corridors through a $500 million program of works to support the State’s beef industry and bring significant benefits to Central Queensland. 

In partnership with the Australian Government, the State Government will work with seven local government mayors as well as key stakeholders to identify short, medium and long-term beef road priorities to inform a 10-year Central Queensland Beef Roads Investment Strategy. 

“Central Queensland is Australia’s heartland for beef production. 

“The road upgrades to be proposed under a 10-year Central Queensland’s Beef Roads Investment Strategy will provide safer and more efficient transport solutions for this nationally-significant industry and increase economic opportunities for the region. 

“In partnership with its federal counterparts, the Department of Transport and Main Roads will engage with relevant local governments and key industry stakeholders to develop a 10-year strategy to prioritise beef road upgrades where they are needed most,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said. 

The two levels of government will engage with the Mayors of Barcaldine, Central Highlands, Gladstone, Isaac and Rockhampton Regional Councils, along with the Banana and Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Councils, who have been advocating for infrastructure investment that will improve the roads forming part of Queensland’s beef supply chain. 

An early works package is being developed to kick start the initiative with the State Government funding contribution. This will prioritise the following projects: 

• Pave and seal sections along Clermont-Alpha Road in Mackay/Whitsunday and Central West districts 
• Pave and seal and widening of floodway along Alpha-Tambo Road in Central West district 
• Pave and seal in sections of the Fitzroy Developmental Road between Bauhinia – Duaringa in the Fitzroy district 
• Pave and seal section along May Downs Road in the Mackay / Whitsunday district 

Construction activities will progressively get underway from 2024-25. 

“A program of early works has been developed to kick start the initiative, while the 10-year Investment Strategy is completed. 

“Future projects will be confirmed through the annual release of the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program which outlines current and planned investment in road and transport infrastructure for delivery over the following four-year program,” Minister Mellish said. 

These works build on the $107 million early works package that was announced in November last year to begin works on the $1 billion Inland Freight Route, also known as the Second Bruce. 

The Australian Government has confirmed a $400 million funding contribution as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Meanwhile, the Queensland Government is contributing $100 million to upgrade Queensland Beef Corridors, which is outlined in the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP 2023-24 to 2026-27). 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Big Rigs