Fears congestion-busting Qld projects could be delayed or cut

As many as 130 major infrastructure projects across Queensland, including highway upgrades, the Sunshine Coast Rail and Rockhampton ring road could face the chop. SEARCH THE INTERACTIVE

More than 130 Queensland projects worth a combined $15bn – including the long-delayed Sunshine Coast Rail – will be in the crosshairs as part of Labor’s review into the $120bn infrastructure pipeline.

There are fears congestion-busting projects could be delayed or cut as part of the process, risking gridlock during the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and damaging the nation’s reputation.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, who announced the 90-day independent review on Monday, was quick to stress there was no target for the number or dollar value of projects to be cut.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King visits a Cross River Rail project site in Brisbane earlier this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

The $3bn Olympic Games venues and Labor’s election commitments will be exempt from the review.

The list of Queensland projects that will come under scrutiny includes $3.6bn of upgrades to the Bruce Highway, including the federal contribution of $2.9bn, as well as the $3.2bn Sunshine Coast Rail, with $1.6bn from the federal government, as well as upgrades to the Centenary Highway, Gateway Motorway and roads linking regional centres.

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said with the Olympics approaching, now was the time to be accelerating infrastructure projects, not delaying or cutting them.

“If we don’t accelerate major infrastructure projects, we risk gridlock at the 2032 Games,” he said.

“This would jeopardise Australia’s brand for generations in the eyes of the international community.”

Opposition infrastructure spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said Labor was seeking to axe productivity boosting infrastructure, while protecting pet projects such as Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop.

“Labor is simultaneously wanting to increase migration by 400,000 people, while at the same time slash road, rail and community infrastructure projects. It’s a recipe for disaster,” she said.

Opposition infrastructure spokeswoman Senator Bridget McKenzie. Picture: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Anthony Albanese on Monday promised there would be no cuts in the budget, which will be handed down on May 9 – well before the review will be finished.

“The former government was obsessed with pork-barrelling,” the Prime Minister said.

“What we have been obsessed with is delivering productivity-enhancing projects.

“And that is why we will be working with every state and territory government.”

Ms King said she had asked the reviewers to give advice on what projects are able to be delivered and “how much they actually cost”.

Gridlock on the Bruce Highway.

“There’s not a target or estimate or any list of targets or anything like that,” she said.

“We know that we have seen massive cost overruns because, again, the government previously did not do the work to actually make sure we have proper costings for host the these projects before they were announced.”

Projects that will not be cut, because they were election promises, include $586.4m to widen the Bruce Highway from Anzac Ave to Uhlmann Rd, $200m to widen the Bruce Highway from Dohles Rocks Rd to Anzac Ave and $200m for Rockhampton to Gladstone upgrades of the Bruce Highway.