Massive infrastructure investment unlocking Toowoomba’s potential
NOT so long ago Toowoomba was a logistics bottleneck, with thousands of trucks carrying produce from across the eastern seaboard through our city streets en route to the Port of Brisbane, enduring no less than 18 sets of traffic lights on the way through.
Congestion and safety were constant concerns.
Fast-forward to today, and the contrast could not be more stark.
The combination of private and public investment has changed the game for southeast Queensland, in particular for our Darling Downs region.
We now boast a state-ofthe-art internationally-capable airport to the city’s west, creating new and exciting tourism, freight and export opportunities; and the magnificent Toowoomba Bypass is now providing a highly efficient and safe route for south east Queensland’s freight task to get to its destination.
The good news is, there is more to come.
Today, right here in Toowoomba, we will see the official signing of the intergovernmental agreement between the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments on Inland Rail.
This is a significant milestone for this historic project.
With the State Government’s co-operation, Inland Rail will start to gain real momentum in our region.
We expect the project to create thousands of jobs and business opportunities throughout Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
We will also be able to get much needed clarity for potentially affected landholders.
This watershed agreement will also unlock co-operation and support for other key infrastructure projects that will significantly impact the future of our region – especially in relation to passenger rail.
In 2018, I secured $15 million in the Federal Budget to carry out a detailed business case for passenger rail services between Toowoomba and Brisbane.
The project has been part of the wider rail-related negotiations since that time, and was temporarily stuck in limbo. But not anymore.
With the State Government now ‘on board’ this work will soon be undertaken — for the first time we can seriously embark on the journey of delivering passenger rail services between Toowoomba and Brisbane for our community.
This will be the next transformative infrastructure project for Toowoomba and something I am particularly proud to champion, with the help of my state and local government colleagues and the private sector.
Indeed, at every opportunity I continue to pursue the case for passenger rail services with my colleagues in Canberra including the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure.
Community leaders, from both government and business, have set a high benchmark of success in pursuing ambitious plans to transform the future of our region.
May that proud tradition continue as we chase the next big game-changing dream and deliver passenger rail for the generations to come.