Kate Jones: Cross River Rail critical for our economic recovery

While building infrastructure that we need for the future has always been important, large-scale infrastructure projects such as Cross River Rail are now critical to Queensland’s economic recovery, writes State Development Minister Kate Jones.

EVERY day on my way to work, I pass the ever-growing demolition site at the old ­Brisbane Transit Centre.

The usually-bustling streets surrounding the remnants of this Brisbane eyesore are deserted and my hometown looks nothing like I can remember, due to COVID-19. But 26 metres below the bare bitumen, there are hundreds of workers transforming our city.

How Cross River Rail will change peak hour commutes

How SEQ’s transport systems are about to be transformed

How Cross River Rail will change our city forever

These men and women are turning up each and every day during this pandemic, moulding and shaping the city of our future. While building infrastructure that we need for the future has always been important, large-scale infrastructure projects such as Cross River Rail are now critical to Queensland’s economic recovery.

Newly announced Queensland Minister for State Development Kate Jones. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

Queensland’s largest infrastructure project is generating more than 7500 jobs, certainty for working families and ­thousands of contracts for local subbies at the very time we need it most couldn’t come at a better time.

Our government understands that to get our economy moving again, we need to ­invest in our construction industry. Right throughout COVID-19, Cross River Rail has injected $85 million a month into our economy – keeping 1800 workers employed across eight worksites.

Already Cross River Rail is changing the landscape of our city and this week tunnelling has begun on Queensland’s first underground at Roma Street.

This campaign will share with Queenslanders the opportunities at their fingertips as a result of Queensland’s largest infrastructure project.

COVID-19 is the biggest challenge we’ve ever had to face. But together, I know we can rebuild.

Kate Jones is Queensland’s State Development Minister