This was published 6 months ago
Why there is no end in sight for traffic congestion in Brisbane’s north
By Sean Parnell
The news
Fourteen Queensland road projects that are dependent on federal funding will now cost an extra $2.2 billion – and the state government has yet to receive any commitments from Canberra.
The projects – all still in the planning and pre-construction phase – were caught up in a national infrastructure review and did not receive any funding in the Albanese government’s midyear budget update.
Planned upgrades of the Bruce Highway, and connector roads in Brisbane’s north, are dependent on funding.Credit: Glenn Hunt
After recalculating their likely cost, the Miles government has an updated list of the in-doubt projects. They include two Bruce Highway projects: the Dohles Rocks Roads to Anzac Avenue upgrade (indicative cost has increased from $250 million to $280 million in six months) and the Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road upgrade (up from $948 million to $1.93 billion).
Also affected is the Gateway Motorway upgrade from Bracken Ridge to the Pine River (up from $1 billion to $1.31 billion), and the Linkfield Road Overpass upgrade (up from $131.4 million to $157 million).
There are now a total of 32 Queensland road and rail projects, some already under construction, where costs have blown out but the commonwealth has yet to commit funds, refused to share the increased cost, or withdrawn its support altogether.
How we got here
The infrastructure review, commissioned by the incoming Albanese government, scrapped the usual funding split for national road projects and changed the commonwealth priorities.
While federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King found more money for some Queensland projects, despite their increasing cost, she also cut others – angering state Treasurer Cameron Dick.
Steven Miles, then the Queensland infrastructure minister, led a delegation to Canberra in protest. He returned claiming to have convinced his federal Labor colleagues to back a Sunshine Coast rail project, even though a business case would ultimately determine its merit.
Why it matters
The Bruce Highway north of Brisbane was traditionally regarded as a long-distance route, but now also carries daily commuters, weekend travellers, and anyone needing to drive around the boom suburbs on the urban fringe.
Congestion builds during the morning and afternoon peak – which now start much earlier – and travel times can be unpredictable, particularly on Fridays or when the route is restricted by roadworks or lane closures.
With the continued expansion of the Aura development on the Sunshine Coast, and new suburbs being planned for another 70,000 residents at Caboolture West, traffic will only increase on that section of the national highway network unless alternatives are found.
What the key players have said
King said the review was necessary to prioritise key projects and make capital works more efficient and sustainable.
“I can say, very clearly, that the entire pipeline has not been managed well by the previous [Coalition] government, and I have got a mess to clean up,” King said in November.
“And I welcome states and territories helping me with that.”
Queensland Transport Minister Bart Mellish this week said his government remained “extremely frustrated” at the funding cuts and continued to push for a better deal.
Mellish said Queensland had proposed a $32 billion roads and public transport program that was “important and necessary for Australia’s fastest growing state with the largest road network”.
The Linkfield Road Overpass, in Brisbane’s north, has been repeatedly hit by trucks and needs to be upgraded.Credit: Queensland Ambulance Service
“The Miles government continues to advocate for proper funding for projects, including the Linkfield Road Overpass which was first proposed by a federal government,” Mellish said.
Another point of view
An alternative mode of transport, or route, between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast could take pressure off the roads but would also require significant funding.
Both levels of government have discussed a potential main road between north Brisbane and Beerburrum that would serve as an alternative to the Bruce Highway. It is still in the early planning stages.
The Queensland government this week put a $12 billion price tag on the Sunshine Coast rail project that would extend passenger services from Brisbane to Maroochydore.
But there is still a funding shortfall – Queensland’s business case has now been sent to King’s department – and the best-case scenario is both governments working together to extend the rail line to Caloundra before the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Where to from here
The federal budget will be handed down on May 14 and the state budget on June 11. It remains to be seen whether the project costs increase faster than the funding commitments.
Local council elections on March 16 may change some of the stakeholders, and the state election on October 26 will provide another opportunity for people – parties, candidates and voters – to make their positions known.