$15m allocated for new Barron River bridge in state budget
Just 3.3 per cent of a total $450m needed to replace the doomed Barron River bridge at Kuranda has been allocated in the state budget, nowhere near enough to stop a major handbrake to the region’s economy before a new crossing is built.
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Just 3.3 per cent of a total $450m needed to replace the doomed Barron River bridge at Kuranda has been allocated in the state budget, nowhere near enough to stave off a major handbrake to the region’s economy, according to advocacy groups.
Budget papers have revealed a $15m allocation for preconstruction work on the bridge but Advance Cairns and the Queensland Trucking Association remain unconvinced the project has been made a priority by the state government.
In the face of greater heavy vehicle load limits being applied to the bridge, there is speculation further deterioration of the 60-year-old crossing could lead to the banning of medium rigid trucks within the next 12 months.
No new bridge funding would have been a conspicuous absence given Barron River MP Craig Crawford’s comments last month that he would be “pretty annoyed” if Treasury was not forthcoming with a commitment of some kind.
The Far North MP said on Tuesday after Treasurer Cameron Dick’s speech that he was satisfied with the modest $15m pledge despite hundreds of millions more required to actually build the new structure.
“I’m happy with this because this is what I was looking for,” he said.
“We can’t have $250m or more hanging out on it because we don’t know what we are building yet.
“(The money will) finish off the business case and the next step is a detailed design because the capital works is hundreds of million dollars.”
But Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan indicated just $15m was not enough to make sure the new bridge was completed within a reasonable time frame.
“It is a critical priority and we need action on that at a much faster pace ... a six to seven-year time frame for construction (of a new bridge) is just going to take too long,” she said.
“We really hold significant concerns about the current Kuranda Range and Barron River bridge.
“The bridge is well and truly nearing the end of its life and it’s going to have a significant impact on the economy if that bridge continues to bear significant weight limits and lane closures.”
A load limit of 50.5 tonnes imposed in 2020 was further reduced last month to 42.5 tonnes after “an issue” was discovered with the ailing bridge’s Macalloy post-tensioning bars.
An estimated six-year construction timeframe for a new bridge raised serious concerns about movement of freight to and from the Atherton Tablelands, including thousands of truck garbage movements hauling waste from Cairns to the Springmount landfill.
Queensland Trucking Association’s Frances Schafer was disappointed to see the lack of investment in key infrastructure.
“Restrictions to the heavy vehicle industry will only increase costs, in addition to grocery items, the cost of waste removal will be evermore costly,” she said.
“Yet again North Queensland communities have to wait for basic road networks for travel reliability and efficiency.
“Regional priorities also matter.”
According to budget notes the new funding is for progressing preconstruction activities only and project details, cost and timing are subject to further planning and consideration.
Also announced in Tuesday’s budget, a $2m drop in a $262.5m bucket for Kuranda Range Road, safety and resilience upgrades
And an additional $15m pledge added to a previously announced $60m which will top up a $300m state and federal war chest needed to duplicate the Cairns Western Arterial Rd between the Redlynch turn off and Captain Cook Highway.
Mr Crawford said due to a federal government infrastructure spending freeze $240m in commonwealth funding had not been available to advance the upgrade.
“(The state money) will be used for relocating power lines and water lines of the Caravonica section so we have some movement happening and contractors will be on the ground before the start of the wet season,” he said.
Originally published as $15m allocated for new Barron River bridge in state budget
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