The Federal Government’s boost to roads in Queensland has been labelled misleading by the State Government.
The decision to reduce Australian Government funding splits on regional roads from 80:20 to 50:50 is likely to cost Queenslanders between $600 million and $1 billion per annum according to Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
It comes soon after funds were cut by the Federal Government on projects like the Mooloolah River interchange, the cap on funding on road corridors and changes to funding splits on existing projects.
“Queenslanders will therefore still be significantly worse off,” said Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister, Mark Bailey.
“Although Queensland has only the third largest population of any state, our vast state has the largest regional road network in the nation so the proposed change from 80/20 funding to 50/50 has the largest impact on regional Queenslanders than regions in any other jurisdiction,” he said in a statement.
“Queensland is the only state in Australia with more people living in regional areas than the capital and there is a disproportionate number of fatalities on our regional roads.
“We will not be deterred from our campaign to maintain current funding arrangements of 80:20 from the Commonwealth as clearly Queensland should have a different regional roads funding formula to other states given our decentralisation and largest road network in the nation.”
A forward infrastructure and roads program was underway based on the state’s population boom and upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for 2032.
“Our plan is critical to supporting the Games, growth and keeping Queenslanders safe,” said Bailey.
.png){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
