Feds beef up Bruce Highway funding

The Federal Government will step up Bruce Highway funding by $7.2 billion under an eight-year package to lift safety on the key Queensland transport corridor. The Department of Transport and Main Roads has estimated an injection of $9 billion will achieve a minimum three-star safety rating (out of five) for the entirety of the 1673km highway. Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said that in recognition of the Bruce Highway’s national importance, unique challenges and dire safety record, the Federal Government was committing to covering 80 per cent of that $9 billion. “Almost half the Bruce has a two-star safety rating and that’s not good enough," she said. "This historic investment answers the call of Queenslanders to bring the Bruce up to a three-star safety rating so Australians stop losing their loved ones on this road. “We are providing a significant and long-term commitment to fixing the Bruce, and I call on the Queensland Government to partner with us to get this done.” The Bruce Highway Upgrade – Safety Package is profiled over eight years from 2025-26 to 2032-33. Today’s announcement of $7.2 billion in funding is in addition to an existing Australian Government commitment of $10 billion for the route. The new safety package will fast-track critical projects along the whole corridor. It will initially focus on priority sections north of Gympie that have been identified by stakeholders as crash hot spots. Priority sections also include Maryborough to Benaraby, Rockhampton to St Lawrence, Bowen to Townsville and Ingham to Innisfail. Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg welcomed the return of the long-standing 80:20 funding split for the state’s most critical transport infrastructure. “Since forming government, we have been calling for Queensland’s fair share of funding from the Federal Government at every opportunity," he said. State Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg . “Queensland deserves better than a second-class highway and that is why we are focused on delivering a safer and more reliable Bruce. “One of my key priorities as Minister for Transport and Main Roads is to deliver a long-term upgrade plan to bring the Bruce Highway up to safety standards. “Our newly formed Bruce Highway Advisory Council met before Christmas as committed to Queenslanders at the election and includes strong voices from the regions." Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) president Matt Burnett thanked the Federal Government for listening to the public campaign that included councils and communities as well as the RACQ, the QFF, the Queensland Trucking Association and trauma doctors. “The LGAQ and mayors were among the first to publicly urge the Federal Government to reverse their decision to make Queenslanders pay more for safe roads, joining the coalition of industry and community as well as face-to-face meetings in Canberra,” Cr Burnett said. He said the Federal Opposition had already committed to returning to a 80:20 road funding model rather than the 50:50 split introduced under Labor, so the LGAQ looked forward to its commitment to support this funding too. Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith said the news came after the group's lobbying in Canberra late last year on its budget and election priorities, including reinstating the 80:20 funding split for the Bruce Highway. "This funding is a significant step towards improving safety and meeting the anticipated growth in defence movements, manufacturing transport, and construction needs,” she said. "We strongly welcome this announcement and look forward to further details on the funding rollout. "We will continue advocating for the same 80:20 funding model to be applied to other critical highways, including the Flinders Highway, which will play a crucial role in supporting the construction of the nation-building Copper String project.”

Feds beef up Bruce Highway funding

Industry Queensland

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