Long list of wishes for AgForce as State Budget looms large

AN INVESTMENT in road and rail infrastructure to help reduce the cost of transporting farm produce, support for water saving measures in the Great Artesian Basin and the continued roll-out of wild dog exclusion fencing top AgForce’s wish list for next week’s State Budget.

AgForce General President Grant Maudsley said agriculture was one of the pillars of the state’s economy, and primary producers wanted targeted investment in infrastructure.

“Demand for our high quality food and fibre is growing, but transport can make up 30-40% of the cost of production so we need more investment in road and rail infrastructure that makes it safer, easier and cheaper to get farm goods to market,” he said.

“In particular, AgForce would like a pool of funds set aside to enable local councils to work with industry to address ‘first and last mile issues’ and to encourage planning works and route assessments which offer the greatest benefit to our regional economies.

“We’d also like to see new funding for highway upgrades in north, central and western Queensland, in particular.

“We’d also urge the State Government to invest in a rail freight infrastructure project proposed by GrainCorp that could create hundreds of jobs, take 20,000 trucks off regional roads and boost Queensland’s exports earnings.”

Mr Maudsley said the Federal Government’s recent commitment of $8 million to continue efforts to improve water infrastructure in the Great Artesian Basin was welcome, and it was important the Queensland Government helped.