$500m for M1 choke point

THE Federal Budget has again bypassed Cross River Rail with funding focused on a notorious M1 bottleneck and the light rail expansion on the Gold Coast.

Budget documents reveal $4 billion is committed to new projects across the state with the Bruce Hwy at Cairns, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast commanding $425 million of the spending.

The only new funding for the M1 will be $500 million for the Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway stretch.

The Budget documents note about $1.2 billion worth of works is under way at the Gateway merge and southern section of the Coast from Mudgeeraba to Reedy Creek.

Under the Commonwealth’s Urban Congestion Fund, about $50 million will be allocated to the M1 upgrade program.

While the Government has committed to $112 million in funding for light rail stage 3A from Broadbeach to Burleigh, the Budget focus was on fast rail.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last night said: “Central to our plan is a long-term fast-rail vision for Australia. To make this vision a reality, we are providing $2 billion in this Budget for fast-rail between Melbourne and Geelong, slashing travel times in half.”

Work was under way on developing other fast-rail corridors including Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, the Treasurer said.

But the Palaszczuk Government, in State Parliament yesterday, maintained it was doing all the heavy lifting on transport upgrades.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey told Parliament: “We’ve watched federal commitments on Gold Coast light rail slip, from to 38 per cent to 23 per cent and now 16 per cent. The Queensland LNP has already signed up for this terrible deal.”

Mr Bailey accused the Federal Government of “still dudding Queenslanders with 50/50 funding” on the M1, while New South Wales gets 80/20.

Gold Coast-based Senator Murray Watt last night described the Budget as “disappointing” for the Coast because it failed to produce any new transport projects.

“There is nothing new that we didn’t already know. There is still nothing for Cross River Rail which would have increased rail services every five minutes on the Coast during the morning peak,” Senator Watt said. “After six years of cuts and chaos, I expect Gold Coasters will see through this election con job.”

In State Parliament yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk taunted the LNP frontbench about Queensland “not getting its fair share” from the Budget compared to Sydney and Melbourne.