Warrego MP Ann Leahy says Queensland's south west has been swindled on last week's state government road funding announcement, after discovering that all the region will receive is $3.6 million for the replacement of a culvert and road widening near Surat.
The Palaszczuk government last week announced more than $400 million in accelerated funding for Queensland roads to supercharge the state's economy through the COVID-19 recovery.
Announced as part of The Queensland Economic Recovery Strategy: Unite and recover for Queensland Jobs, the stimulus package includes $200m to widen and seal key freight routes across the state as well as upgrade older bridges and culverts.
It was described as a direct injection for regional jobs that will help support council crews.
Central Queensland shires have fared well from the funding announcement, receiving $56.95m for works on the Eyre Development Road, the Cramsie-Muttaburra Road, the Clermont-Alpha Road, the Blackall-Jericho Road, the Capricorn Highway, the Fitzroy Development Road, and the Cotherstone Road.
Some $31.9m will be spent on roads in the north west, including culvert replacements on the Gregory Development Road, the Richmond-Winton Road, the Wills Development Road, and the Burke Development Road, and progressive sealing on the Gregory Downs-Camooweal and Cloncurry-Dajarra Roads.
Gregory MP Lachlan Millar and Barcaldine Shire Council mayor Sean Dillon each welcomed the stimulus, Mr Millar saying it would be important for regional councils in employing people and keeping their economy going.
He said he would like to see more certainty rather than a piecemeal approach to road funding.
"At the moment there's bits of funding here and there, where 10 years of certainty means people working for councils would stay in the west, knowing their work was guaranteed."
Cr Dillon said the announcement came just as flood damage work was due to run out and so had arrived just in time.
"We can keep private contractors on jobs now that there is adequate work moving forward," he said.
Bulloo Shire mayor John 'Tractor' Ferguson was much less complimentary, describing the funding allocation as a kick in the bum.
"If they are serious about getting the country back working, they've got to put in serious money," he said.
Some $38.35m was announced for southern Queensland, to be spent largely on the New England Highway, the Barwon Highway, the Gatton-Helidon Road, and the Murphy's Creek Road, as well as the culvert on the Roma-Surat Road.
"We want more than one culvert," Ms Leahy said.
Cr Ferguson said there had been no capital funding for his region outside TIDS and Roads of Strategic Importance projects for a long time.
"Those programs just keep you ticking along whereas $10m a year for 10 years for the Warri Gate Road would get you a bitumen road from Adelaide to the Gulf," he said.
Once the NSW government seals the 60km from the border to Tibbooburra, the 157km of dirt from the border to just south of Noccundra will be the only barrier to North Queensland produce being moved south through the region.
"It would benefit the whole of Queensland," Cr Ferguson said.
"Some years, 60,000 tourists come as far as Tibbooburra but no further," he said.
"Fresh produce would get to Adelaide 24 hours earlier than if it went by the seaboard.
"And because of the distances, trucks have got to spell, and that means depots and rest areas, that all bring people to manage."
He estimated expending that amount of money would bring 50 extra trucks a day.
"I don't know how many letters I've written to (Transport Minister) Mark Bailey about this but don't even get a reply," he said.
The southern Queensland funding builds on $32 million in joint funding announced last month under the Roads of Strategic Importance scheme in the broader south west Queensland region.
That includes projects on the Gore Highway between Toowoomba and Millmerran, and a series of intersection upgrades on the Carnarvon Highway between St George and Rolleston.
In North Queensland the funding builds on $111 million in joint funding announced last month under the Roads of Strategic Importance scheme, while in central Queensland, last week's funding announcement builds on $28 million of RoSI funding, which includes projects like replacing bridges, sealing roads and upgrading the Dawson Highway, Gregory Highway and Dawson Developmental Road.
Regarding the $8.95m for widening the Capricorn Highway between Alpha and Emerald, Barcaldine mayor Sean Dillon said it was a step in the right direction as far as type 2 road trains were concerned.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
