Bruce Highway upgrades, funding for the final stage of the ring road and major port and rail investments have contributed to the Queensland Government’s record infrastructure budget for the Townsville region.
The state government estimates these projects will create more than 1200 jobs for the Townsville region over four years.
In total, $1.5 billion has been invested in major infrastructure projects for the region.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the government wants people to spend less time in traffic and more time with family and friends, and the $180 million Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 will help to achieve that.
“The project will also create almost 200 jobs when we’re ready to start construction, so it backs our commitment to a pipeline of job-creating projects for Townsville.”
Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the state budget had also committed funding to projects focused on moving rail and road freight more quickly to support North Queensland’s economy.
“Improving inland road freight routes is also a highlight of this budget with $50 million committed towards jointly-funded upgrades from Townsville to Tennant Creek and $25 million towards Townsville to Roma corridor upgrades.”
Infrastructure projects in the Townsville region include:
Major roads projects
- $514.3 million construction of the Haughton River Floodplain upgrade on the Bruce Highway between Horseshoe Lagoon and Palm Creek
- $380 million (over five years) to support maintenance and upgrades on the Mount Isa Rail Line
- $193 million Townsville Channel Capacity Upgrade at the Port of Townsville
- $80 million (over four years) to reduce access charges for commercial freight on the Mount Isa Line
- $48 million to construct a new freight terminal at the Port of Townsville
- $43 million road widening, overtaking lanes and safety improvements on the Bruce Highway between Mailman Road and Mackenzie Creek
- $9.4 million road widening on the Bruce Highway between Deep Creek and Bluewater Creek (north of Townsville)
- $6.6 million intersection upgrades on the Bruce Highway at the intersection of Bluewater Station Road, Forestry Road and Toolakea Beach Road
- $6.1 million safety improvements on the Bruce Highway between Two Mile Creek and Sleeper Log Creek
- $4 million upgrading of two intersections on the Bruce Highway at Innisfail-Japoon Road and McGowan Drive south of Innisfail
Bike-riding infrastructure projects
- $7.4 million construction of the Reid Park Active Transport Bridge
- $2.5 million for Dean Street shared pathway
Maritime projects
- $23.3 million upgrading of Clump Point boating infrastructure at Mission Beach.
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