The Queensland Government has announced a $327.1 million investment in road infrastructure in the South Coast region for 2018-19.
Member for Gaven, Meaghan Scanlon, said the region was a beneficiary of the blockbuster roads budget being delivered under the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP), and will support about 1619 jobs over four years.
“The funding for the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim area is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s record spend on road and transport infrastructure across the state for the third year running, with an investment of about $21.7 billion over the next four years,” Ms Scanlon said.
“This is $700 million higher than last year’s QTRIP, resulting from a 10 per cent increase in the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment
“It will include $1.784 billion of works planned just for this area alone, over the next four years.
“Continuing works on the Mount Lindesay Highway and other key links, and the reconstruction of damaged roads is the main focus for this year’s budget.
“Importantly, the M1 remains a major focus of the Palaszczuk Government.”
Ms Scanlon said the major projects for the South Coast district in 2018-19 include:
- M1- continue widening from four to six lanes between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes for a total cost of $197.5 million (2018-19 $70 million)
- M1 – continue construction of additional southbound lanes on the merge between the Gateway Motorway and the Pacific Motorway at Eight Miles Plains and Rochdale for a total cost of $190 million (2018-19 $50 million)
- M1 – complete planning and start design to upgrade the motorway between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill for a total cost of $749 million (2018-19 $17 million)
- M1 – complete planning and start design to upgrade the motorway between Varsity Lakes and Tugun for a total cost of $1.030 billion (2018-19 $5 million)
- Mount Lindesay Highway – complete road safety improvements at North Maclean, Greenbank Road and South Maclean, Camp Cable Road to Jimboomba for a total cost of $40 million (2018-19 $17.8 million).
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, said, “Other works planned for the South Coast district include reconstruction works on Gold Coast-Springbrook Road, Waterford-Tamborine Road, Lamington National Park Road, Nerang-Murwillumbah Road and Beechmont Road.
“The Palaszczuk Government is also providing $2.5 million in 2018-19 in funding to local governments through the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) to fund the development of transport related infrastructure.”
Mr Bailey said the budget showed a continuing commitment to delivering key infrastructure and creating jobs for the people of Queensland.
“The Palaszczuk investment in roads, rail, marine, passenger transport and active transport infrastructure is estimated to support about 19,200 direct jobs, on average, over the life of the four-year program,” Mr Bailey said.
