Central Queensland livestock transporters are set to benefit from progressive delivery of $500 million of upgrades to priority road corridors to support the state’s beef industry.
In a statement announcing the news this week, the Queensland government also confirmed the feds will kick in $400 million of that total as part of the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook.
The state government, in partnership with Canberra, will work with seven local government mayors and key industry stakeholders on the identification of short, medium and long-term beef road priorities to inform a 10-year Central Queensland Beef Roads Investment Strategy.
This includes the Mayors of Barcaldine, Central Highlands, Gladstone, Isaac and Rockhampton Regional Councils and Banana and Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Councils, who have been advocating for infrastructure investment to improve the roads forming part of the state’s beef supply chain.
To kick start the initiative, an early works package is being developed with the Miles government funding contribution, prioritising 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 the 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 is expected to commence progressively from 2024-25 and these works are in addition to the $107 million early works package announced in November 2023 to kickstart the $1 billion Inland Freight Route, also known as the Second Bruce.
“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,” said Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Bart Mellish.
Queensland’s beef corridor network stretches across nearly 218,000 square kilometres and runs from east to west across Central Queensland.
This strategic web of roads help contribute $1.7 billion to the Australian economy.