After a long lobbying effort it was great news that the Queensland Government has finally decided to progress a program to fix road train access to the Rockhampton meat processors.
Kickstarting this project is an example of a real economic benefit for both Queensland’s economy and consumers. Transport is a major cost for cattle producers and this upgrade improves one of the State’s biggest bottlenecks, delivering better truck access into Australia’s beef capital.
It will not only improve productivity but also improve animal welfare and driver safety, reducing fatigue.
It’s important to note that more funding is required from either the State or Federal Government to deliver the entire project.
However fixing two intersection to access the processors on Lakes Creek Road is an important first step to allowing Type 1 road trains access.
The Queensland Government announced the $10 million to upgrade the access as part of the State Infrastructure Plan yesterday. The funding will be used to upgrade two North Rockhampton intersections at Moores Creek Road and Musgrave Street, and Queen Elizabeth Drive and Bridge Street.
A further $40 million has been set aside to fix five aging wooden bridges on the Dawson Highway between Gladstone and Biloela. With more than 400 wooden bridge on Queensland roads this will be particular challenge for this government and future government.
Again the commitment to the Dawson highway is a start, but more work and funding is required.
Both these projects were among the priorities outlined for AgForce Transport committee last year.
Agriculture is growing the Queensland economy and transport bottle necks are inevitably passed on to consumers. It is our job to convince governments that there is real economic benefit to investing Queensland’s road infrastructure.
AgForce’s Transport Working Group has been lobbying to achieve these types of outcomes. For example, I joined a number of members to meet with Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Director General Neil Scales at the recent Gladstone Community Cabinet and I’m pleased to see that in the case of Rockhampton and the Dawson Highway, the government is listening to our concerns.
