Budget to include billions for Queensland roads, Brisbane transport

A MULTIBILLION-dollar bitumen bonanza that spruces up the Bruce Highway and revolutionises Brisbane’s public transport will be unveiled in the Turnbull Government’s pre-poll Budget.

• Haunted by ghosts of Budgets past

A MULTIBILLION-dollar bitumen bonanza that spruces the Bruce and revolutionises Brisbane public transport will be unveiled in the Turnbull Government’s pre-poll Budget.

A $5.2 billion hard-hat cash splash will include funding for the Brisbane Metro public transport project, a record boost for the Bruce Highway, and upgrades for strategic roads in regional Queensland.

Treasurer Scott Morrison’s third Budget, to be revealed tomorrow, is a $25 billion national plan heavily geared towards planes, trains and cars — and part of a $75 billion, 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline.

Scott Morrison will deliver the Budget tomorrow, with billions to be announced for Queensland roads and transport.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the infrastructure plan is projected to create 50,000 extra jobs over the decade, and, in the short term, help keep the trajectory.

But the infrastructure prize is also aimed at easing congestion for working families, making roads safer and transport networks more productive, including getting product to port quicker.

It also underscores Malcolm Turnbull’s proclamation that he’s a PM for infrastructure and, unlike Tony Abbott, his willingness to fund public transport.

Queensland’s share is smaller than Victoria’s, which will today claim it has won the lion’s share of funds, with almost $8 billion in projects.

Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad will miss out on funding for pet project, the Cross River Rail.

However, The Courier-Mail can reveal the state will win:

• $3.3 billion upgrades for the Bruce Highway, including projects from central to north Queensland. This includes $880 million in new upgrades from Pine Rivers to Caloundra and about $1.6 billion in projects to be released later. It means the Coalition’s spend on the highway since 2013 will have reached $10 billion.

• $300 million for the Brisbane Metro project, a Brisbane City Council plan that will include high-frequency public transport services over 21km of existing busway.

• $170 million for the Cunningham Highway linking the Darling Downs and Ipswich.

• A share of $160 million for the Outback Way, which stretches between Winton and Laverton in Western ­Australia.

• $1.5 billion for northern Australian strategic roads, which help get product to port and will be a major employer for indigenous Australians.

The Government has already announced it will fund $1 billion for the M1 Pacific Highway; $800 million to upgrade the Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Curra, bypassing Gympie; $390 million to duplicate the North Coast Line between Beerburrum and Landsborough; and a $150 million upgrade to the Bruce Highway at Murrumba Downs, creating missing northbound entry and exit points at the Dohles Rocks Road interchange.

In an interview with The Courier-Mail, Mr Morrison said he understood the tyranny of distance many Queenslanders have to face every day.

“It is a state of growth,” Mr Morrison said.

“It is also a state with large distances, so safety of travel around such a big state is incredibly important, particularly on rural and regional roads.

“On coping, dealing and managing with growth, that’s obviously a challenge for Queensland, and that needs the infrastructure and support ... but it’s also about connecting the economy, connecting the regions, connecting products to market, and setting Queensland up to succeed over the next decade.”

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the major highlight of the Budget was the 10-year infrastructure investment pipeline.

“It sets out our long-term infrastructure agenda to help communities, agencies and industry plan ahead for the future,’’ he said.

“We are investing in congestion-busting urban infrastructure, which increases productivity for our city businesses and helps people get home sooner and safer to their families.”

Urban Infrastructure and Cities Minister Paul Fletcher said the Government had a clear long-term plan to building vital infrastructure for Queensland.