The Federal Government will invest more than $75 billion in transport infrastructure projects over the next decade, including $24 billion allocated in the 2018/2019 Federal Budget for Australia’s infrastructure, including major road and rail investments.
The $24 billion infrastructure package will deliver funding for key road and rail projects that the government hopes will “bust congestion” and reduce the road toll.
“You know, whether it’s the Tullamarine Freeway in Victoria, whether it is the big investments in the Bruce Highway in Queensland, whether it is building the Western Sydney Airport and the North South Rail Link here in New South Wales.
“Right across the country, we’re spending $75 billion on infrastructure over the next decade and we’re allocating an extra $24 billion in this Budget to go to infrastructure,” Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull said.
Mr Turnbull, said there would be infrastructure spending across the nation and no state has “missed out”.
“We’ve announced additional funding in this Budget, including the Coffs Harbour Bypass, but of course we already have a huge amount underway – whether it is WestConnex, whether it’s the Western Sydney Airport or whether it is the other upgrades on the Pacific Highway or the North-South Rail Link.
“Right across the country, you will see that funding is committed in a manner that fairly represents the interests of the various parts of Australia and the infrastructure needs. So nobody has missed out,” Mr Turnbull said.
The budget has allocated $7.9 billion towards rail projects across Australia, including a commitment of up to $5 billion for a future Melbourne Airport Rail Link, the biggest infrastructure commitment in the budget.
Funding to tackle urban congestion
The government will establish a targeted $1 billion Urban Congestion Fund to bust road congestion.
The Urban Congestion Fund will invest in projects in urban areas that address pinch points and last-mile access to ports, airports and freight hubs.
Important roads initiative
The Budget includes $3.5 billion to establish the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative which will upgrade key freight corridors in regional Australia and increase productivity by connecting major agricultural and resource areas with cities and ports.
The initiative will also benefit urban areas where the primary focus will be last-mile access to ports, markets, airports and intermodal facilities. Upgrades to these roads will increase safety and provide broader benefits to regional Australia by supporting the tourism industry.
Major project business case fund
$250 million has been allocated to a Major Project Business Case Fund to enable the Commonwealth to work in partnership with state and territory governments to develop business cases for major projects.
The first business cases funded will include $15 million to support planning for a passenger rail service between Toowoomba and Brisbane, and $10 million for EastLink WA (Orange Route).
Safer roads funding
The Australian Government will continue to fund the Black Spot Program with $744.5 million from 2013–14 to 2021–22 to deliver safety improvements, such as safety barriers and street lighting to sections of dangerous road which have a crash history.
The Roads to Recovery Program will also be maintained with $4.8 billion from 2013–14 to 2021–22 for the construction, repair and upgrade of local roads.
Investment in regional Australia
The Budget will provide funding to extend the community grants programs which will invest directly in economic and social infrastructure in regional Australia.
An additional $200 million has been allocated to deliver a third round of the Building Better Regions Fund, following the success of the first round which is delivering more than 250 projects across regional Australia
The Stronger Communities Program will be extended for a fourth round through a commitment of an additional $22.5 million. This program provides grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 to community organisations and local governments for capital projects, such as aged care facilities and community halls.
Airstrip funding grants
The government will extend the Remote Airstrip Upgrade program by providing $28.3 million from 2018–19 to 2021–22 to deliver better access and safety upgrades to remote airstrips.
Competitive grants funding rounds will be conducted with applications sought from local airstrip owners, such as local councils, cattle stations and indigenous communities.
Funding to streamline projects
Local councils will benefit from an early payment of 50 per cent of the 2018–19 Financial Assistance Grant program.
This cash injection of more than $1.2 billion will give councils the opportunity to start work immediately on new projects and to benefit from additional interest on cash in the bank.
Funding by state and territory
National
- Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) initiative: $3.5 billion, including $2.2 billion to be provided to specific regions or corridors
- Urban Congestion Fund: $1 billion
- Major Project Business Case Fund: $250 million
New South Wales
- Coffs Harbour Bypass: $971 million
- Nowra Bridge construction: $155 million
- Port Botany Rail Line Duplication: $400 million
- Western Sydney North-South rail: $50 million to joint fund a business case with the New South Wales Government
- Barton Highway corridor: $100 million for the continued upgrade of the highway, which is an important link between regional New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
Victoria
- Melbourne Airport Rail Link: Up to $5 billion
- North East Link: $1.75 billion
- Monash Rail: $475 million
- Frankston to Baxter Rail Link Electrification Upgrade: $225 million
- Victorian Congestion Package: $140 million
- Continued investment in regional rail (Geelong Line): $50 million
- Completion of the duplication of the Princes Highway East (Traralgon to Sale): $132 million
- The government also remains committed to the East West Link and its offer of $3 billion stands
Queensland
- Bruce Highway: $3.3 billion for continued upgrades to the Bruce Highway:
- $880 million Pine River to Caloundra corridor upgrade
- $800 million for the Cooroy to Curra—Section D
- $200 million for additional safety works
- M1 Pacific Motorway: $1 billion towards upgrades between Varsity Lakes and Tugun, and between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill
- Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade: $390 million
- Brisbane Metro: $300 million
- Cunningham Highway (Amberley Interchange): $170 million
- Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail Business Case: $15 million to support planning
- Queensland will also receive a share of the $1.5 billion ROSI initiative—Northern
- Australia Package, and a share of the $160 million commitment to the Outback Way, both to be allocated across the three northern jurisdictions
Western Australia
- METRONET: An additional $1.1 billion, taking the total Australian Government funding to $2.3 billion, including new projects announced in the budget:
- $500 million for Morley-Ellenbrook Line
- $241 million for Byford Extension
- $83 million for the Midland Station project
- $2 million for Lakelands business case
- $226 million for further projects to be agreed
- Road Projects: $1.5 billion including:
- Bunbury Outer Ring Road (stages two and three): $560 million
- $252.5 million for Tonkin Highway stage three Extension
- $145 million for Tonkin Highway Gap
- $183 million for Tonkin Highway interchanges
- $107.5 million for Mitchell Freeway Extension—Hester Avenue to Romeo Road
- $46.5 million for Leach Highway (Welshpool Road interchange)
- $144 million for Roe Highway/Great Eastern Highway Bypass and Abernethy Road/Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges)
- $65 million for Stephenson Avenue Extension Bindoon Bypass—Great Northern Highway: $220 million though the ROSI initiative EastLink WA (Orange Route) Business Case—$10 million
- Western Australia will also receive a share of the $1.5 billion ROSI initiative—Northern Australia Package, and a share of the $160 million commitment to the Outback Way, both to be allocated across the three northern jurisdictions
- The government also remains committed to the Perth Freight Link and its offer of $1.2 billion stands
South Australia
- North South Corridor Future Priorities:
- North-South Corridor—Regency Road to Pym Street: $177 million
- Future Priorities: $1.21 billion
- Joy Baluch Bridge: $160 million
- Gawler Rail Line Electrification: $220 million
Tasmania
- Bridgewater Bridge Replacement: $461 million
- Freight Rail Revitalisation: An additional $59.8 million to be provided from 2019–20
- Tasmania will also receive dedicated funding of $400 million from the ROSI initiative for a Tasmanian Roads Package, focusing on the Bass Highway
Australian Capital Territory
- Monaro Highway Upgrade: $100 million
- ACT will also benefit from the increased connectivity with NSW generated through the ROSI initiative to upgrade the Barton Highway
Northern Territory
- Central Arnhem Road Upgrade: $180 million
- Buntine Highway Upgrade: $100 million
- The Northern Territory will also receive a share of the $1.5 billion ROSI initiative—Northern Australia Package, and a share of the $160 million commitment to the Outback Way, both to be allocated across the three northern jurisdictions
Northern Australia
- ROSI initiative—Northern Australia Package: $1.5 billion to be shared across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia
- Outback Way: $160 million, to be allocated across Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia
