NEWS
TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE GETS $7.5 BILLION IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET The Prime Minister has announced a $7.5 billion boost for national transport infrastructure to deliver roads and create jobs. As part of the Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan the infrastructure funding includes key investments across all states and territories. An additional $1.2 billion has also been announced to support Australian businesses to employ 100,000 new apprentices or trainees. From 5 October 2020, businesses that take on a new Australian apprentice will be eligible for a 50 per cent wage subsidy. In a press release, the Government stated the $7.5 billion funding would build on the series of infrastructure investments already announced in response to the pandemic. Major project specific investments include: • $560 million for the Singleton Bypass on the New England Highway in New South Wales; • $528 million for the Shepparton and Warrnambool Rail Line Upgrades in Victoria; • $750 million for Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector (Coomera to Nerang) in Queensland; • $88 million for the Reid Highway Interchange with West Swan Road in
Western Australia; • $200 million for the Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Upgrade in South Australia; • $150 million for the Midway Point Causeway (including McGees Bridge) and Sorell Causeway as part of the Hobart to Sorell Roads of Strategic Importance corridor in Tasmania; • $120 million to upgrade the Carpentaria Highway in the Northern Territory; and • $88 million for the Molonglo River Bridge in the ACT. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Federal Budget would deliver funding for infrastructure which supports the Government’s JobMaker plan and helps the nation recover from COVID-19. “We have been working closely with state and territory governments to invest in the infrastructure that is ready to go and can help rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister said. “These projects will keep commuters safe on the road, get people home to their loved ones sooner and
provide better transport links for urban and regional communities.” He said the investment was part of the government’s plan to support an estimated 30,000 direct and indirect jobs. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government is focused on delivering priorities and boosting local jobs as part of Australia’s road to recovery. “We will draw on local businesses to stimulate local economies through these projects,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. “Infrastructure means jobs, it means livelihoods, it means stronger local communities and it means building a better and more secure future for our nation.”
The Federal Budget has allocated $7.5 billion to transport infrastructure projects.
CONTRACTORS BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF M1 UPGRADES IN QUEENSLAND Close to 180 jobs are being created for the upgrade of Exit 41 from the M1 motorway in the Gold Coast. Crews have now begun construction for the exit in Yatala, which is home to emerging industrial precincts and communities. This work comes after the completion of a $25 million Exit 57 upgrade and the Queensland government’s $10 million commitment to upgrade Exit 45. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said a new bridge would be built over the M1 while the existing roundabout would be transformed into signalised intersections. 6
ROADS NOVEMBER 2020
“Almost one million people will call the Gold Coast home by 2041, and it’s crucial that our road and transport system is ready for that boom, and that we’re creating the jobs for the people that move here,” Bailey said. He said because of the effort of Queenslanders to manage the impacts of COVID-19 these projects are able to get underway and be completed. “For the Gold Coast that means we’ve been able to complete Exit 57, start building a $1 billion M1 upgrade to the border, lock in $755 million to build a second M1 and upgrade those interchanges
in the northern suburbs where that growth is expected.” The upgrade is expected to help avoid traffic queuing on the M1 with new on and off-ramps to be built and additional lanes added to Cuthbert Drive. “One of the outcomes of the Northern Gold Coast Mobility Study we conducted earlier this year identified that active transport was huge ask from residents, so we’ll be maximising the upgrade by building new shared paths to connect both sides,” Bailey said. Construction on the project is expected to be complete by 2022.
