8 October 1983
A further increase is to be made in Commonwealth road funds for Queensland which are already running at record levels.
The Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, today announced an extra $10 million has been set aside for Queensland.
This will push expenditure on the State's road system to $ 272.4 million this financial year a rise of 51.3 per cent over 1982-83.
Almost $ 60 million will be spent on local roads, an increase of 60 per cent.
In the last few days, approval has been given for road works in Queensland worth an estimated $ 136 million.
These projects will create 3,000 jobs and include $ 65 mill ion for the Bruce Highway.
Work on the State's National Highways will include:
- The dual carriageway to be completed between Brisbane and Nambour;
- Major upgrading on the Bruce Highway to include replacement of many old and narrow flood-prone bridges as well as long sections of narrow and weak road pavements;
- Construction of the remaining unsealed sections between Morven and Augathella, anrid Winton and Cloncurry, as well as upgrading of long sections of old and narrow pavement;
- Work on a second carriageway between Ipswich and Toowoomba.
- The Ipswich bypass to be completed and general highway upgrading work carried out on the Cunningham Highway.
Work on arterial roads will include:
Urban
- Extending the South East Freeway toward Springwood;
- Duplication of the Kingston to Beenleigh Road;
- Duplication of the Sanford sub-arterial road between
- Dawson Parade and Settlement Road;
- Reconstruction of the Brisbane to Woodford Road.
Rural
- Extension of the Pacific Highway to Tugun on the new route towards Tweed Heads;
- Construction of-the Dawson River Bridge and approaches on the Dawson Highway between Banana and Rolleston;
- Upgrading of the Flinders Highway between Townsville and Charters Towers;
- Upgrading of the Leichhardt Highway between Goondiwindi and Taroom.
A total of 116 projects on local roads has been approved.
With others approved last month, a total of 283 local road projects have been endorsed this year.
These projects will be undertaken in 110 local government areas.
The Commonwealth funds are allocated under three Local Roads programs.
They are the Road Grants Act, the Australian Bicentennial Road Development program ( ABRD) and the Jobs on Local Roads (JOLOR) scheme.
The Commonwealth funds national roads 100 percent; urban and rural arterial roads by a third; and makes a substantial contribution to local roads, which are maintained by local councils. The increased spending in Queensland will help to meet a number of Comamonwealth aims.
Firstly, it will create more jobs which, in turn, will help to stimulate spending in local areas.
Secondly, it will reduce accidents and imp'rove communications, of particular importance i n a State as large and as decentralised as Queensland.
Thirdly, it will help the tourist industry, especially by making travel to northern centres on the Bruce Highway more attractive.