No guarantees for Mackay Port Access road, after cost blows out by $1bn

After the Qld government revealed the cost of a major road project had ballooned out by $1bn, it wouldn’t commit to building it.

The Mackay Port Access route was originally billed at $350 million, split 80:20 between the Federal and Queensland Governments.

A plan to build a road between the Mackay Port and Bruce Highway could be up in the air after analysis from the state Transport’s office showed Mackay’s Port Access road will cost taxpayers a billion dollars more than expected.

It’s the largest increase of up to 200 transport projects that totalled $6.7 billion in cost blowouts the Liberal government has inherited since coming into office.

Originally billed at $350 million in 2012 with an 80:20 split between the federal and state governments, the road aims to create a direct link between the port of Mackay and the Mackay Ring Road via a 9.5 km, two-lane pass from the Bruce Highway in Glenella to Mackay Slade Point Road.

A preliminary map showing the Mackay Port Access Road. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The road is now expected to cost $1.49bn – an increase of 327 per cent though it is unclear which level of government will foot the new bill.

The State Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg said the current cost estimates of the road reflect changes in design standards, legislative requirements, current market pressure and cost escalation.

“Design changes referenced include all aspects associated with road, bridge, drainage, geotechnical and environmental aspects of a major road infrastructure project,” he said.

“Compliance with all relevant legislation must be taken into consideration, along with market pressures and cost escalation in the development of project estimates.”

Shadow Transport Minister Bart Mellish accused the minister of “whinging” and gearing up to “cut” the roads and rail projects we all need

“The Department has told him the costs of these projects are more than the Department initially thought and it is now his job to ask the Treasurer for more money or cut the projects,” he said.

When asked whether the road would be completely scrapped following the increases, Transport Minister didn’t rule it out saying the state government will “consider a sustainable and transparent strategy to deliver the infrastructure program” as part of their upcoming budget.

Another 12 Mackay projects were “laid bare” by Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg totalling nearly $159 million with the minister accusing the previous government of keeping it all secret before the election.

The list includes the Bruce Highway upgrades between Mackay and Proserpine which will see an estimated $70 million increase in the task to improve the road’s flood.

The Mackay Port Access wasn’t expected to lift off the ground until late 2026.

Earlier this month, conservationists warned up to 20 hectares of protected mangrove estuaries could be cleared to make way for it.

While community consultations closed on March 7, a day after Mackay Conservation Group were made aware of the revocation plans, Mr Mickelberg said “the project is still in a planning phase and community feedback will be considered ahead of recommendations being made by late 2026”.