Row as port plans stall

A Multi-million-dollar truck stop designed to help cut congestion at the Port of Townsville has been delayed despite plans it would be finished at the end of the financial year.

The State Government said the port was still liaising with the trucking industry to ensure the plans were in order.

Burdekin MP Dale Last said this was just one of the delays to works in North Queensland.

But the State Government called his claim an attempt to undermine the progress of Port of Townsville and “petty party politics”.

In August 2019, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey proposed a plan to battle congestion on the port access roads, with a tender going out for an area to cater for up to 25 triple road trains.

The $4.5 million project would develop the staging area on Benwell Rd and improve safety and congestion around the port.

The project had a June 2020 deadline, weather permitting.

The port website said construction was due to begin on the truck stop in early 2020.

But Mr Bailey said the truck staging area was not part of other works at the port.

“Dale Last has been caught red-handed in another LNP lie,” Mr Bailey said.

“He knows full well projects on Townsville’s roads and the $193 million port upgrade are either on track or ahead of schedule. The truck staging upgrade project isn’t even part of the port channel upgrade and the port has been working closely with the trucking industry to make sure they get the project right.”

Works are currently under way to widen the port channel.

Mr Last said $300 million in works had been delayed, including works to the Bruce Highway near Cairns.

He said tenders had been delayed or extended, stopping much-needed work that could help the community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our communities need to see economic stimulus, not further slowdowns because of an election campaign or the incompetence of ministers and the treasurer,” he said.

However, Mr Bailey refused to accept this was the case.

“The Government brought forward more has than $150 million in road building … and last month announced $580 million in new road funding to stimulate local jobs,” he said.

“That builds on a $1.5 billion pipeline of roads and transport projects across North Queensland, including the $514 million Haughton River Floodplain upgrade and $44 million overtaking lanes project at Killymoon Creek happening now – two projects in the Burdekin electorate.”