Roads windfall on way

NORTH Queensland’s priority transport corridors are in line for a “large slice” of $ 1.5 billion in Commonwealth funding earmarked for regional road upgrades.

LNP senator Ian Macdonald said he expected a significant portion of funds set aside for key road corridors in Northern Australia as part of the Government’s Roads To Strategic Importance fund would be spent in the state.

Stakeholders from across Queensland will today meet in Townsville for a roundtable discussion on how to improve road reliability, better connect industry to markets and provide improved access for communities across the North.

Senator Macdonald said the roundtable meeting was a “phenomenal opportunity” to bring experts and community representatives together.

“I am delighted to see so many strong and passionate voices representing Queensland,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we all want the same thing and we are all working towards the same thing, which is for the Queensland economy to boom and to promote investment and job rights across the North.”

Earlier this year, the Flinders Highway between Towns- ville and Richmond, and Julia Creek and Mount Isa was identified in the Inland Queensland Roads Action Project as a high priority for development within the next four years.

The project was co- ordinated by Regional Development Australia and included a working group of 28 local councils across Queensland.

Roads and Transport Assistant Minister Scott Buchholz will attend the Townsville roundtable and said the pro- cess would ensure taxpayers got the “biggest bang for their buck”.

“The allocation of funding will be informed by an evidence- based approach that identifies corridors of greatest need in terms of existing deficiencies and freight demand patterns,” he said.

Resources and Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan said that the additional funding would build on the important upgrades already progressing under the successful Northern Australia Roads Program and the Beef Roads Program.

“( The investment) will provide a direct economic boost by improving links between regional communities to ensure that they have reliable access to essential services including healthcare and education,” Mr Canavan said.

“The upgrades will also support increased economic activity by improving access to the many fantastic tourist sites the North has to offer.”