Federal Election 2022: Colin Boyce pledges $25 million to create Central Queensland Inland Port at Emerald for Flynn

One of the Central Highlands’ most significant projects will receive a multimillion-dollar windfall if the coalition wins Saturday’s Federal Election, as part of a plan to ‘turbo charge’ the region. Here’s what it means for the region.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce with Colin Boyce (Candidate for Flynn). PICTURE: BRAD HUNTER OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

One of the Central Highlands’ most significant projects, the Central Queensland Inland Port, will receive a multimillion-dollar windfall if the coalition wins Saturday’s Federal Election.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has promised $25 million to construct an Inland Port about 25km from Emerald in the Yamala Enterprise Area.

Speaking from area on Wednesday, Mr Joyce said the money would go towards a potable water pipeline to move 8000mL of water critical for the development, to ‘grow the town of Emerald into the city of Emerald’.

The YEA project will only work if it has a steady supply of water.

The CQ Inland Port is the first of its kind in Northern Australia and is a purpose manufactured 240ha industrial estate that would be zoned special industry.

The freight intermodal facility would have direct access to the main western rail line and the Capricorn Highway.

Assistant Minister Scott Buchholz, Cr Kerry Hayes and Managing Director of CQ Inland Port, Alan Stent-Smith. Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport, Scott Buchholz met with the Central Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (CQROC) at the CQ Inland Port at Emerald on December 4, 2020.

The project has been under construction for some time, with the first stage of the $9.5 million rail and road upgrade near Emerald completed in 2019.

Former member for Callide and LNP candidate for Flynn Colin Boyce said the project would ‘turbo charge’ the region because ‘water is life’.

“Every dollar we’ve pledged towards this project is an investment in the jobs and prosperity of the people and industries of Flynn,” Mr Boyce said.

“The produce from the Central Highlands helps feed and clothe our nation and the world. Getting water to the YEA is an integral part of growing the productivity and development of the wider region and getting even more of our world-class produce to national and international consumers.

“The Coalition’s record investments in infrastructure for the Central Highlands, along with this commitment to get water to YEA, will help harness the region’s potential and drive jobs growth and prosperity throughout Central Queensland.”