Qld infrastructure projects: Minister’s broadside on Labor blowouts

The Opposition is accusing the Transport Minister of whinging and gearing up to cut projects, as he reveals the cost of building more than 200 Qld road and transport projects has soared by $6.7bn.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg

The cost of building more than 200 road and transport infrastructure projects across Queensland has soared by an eye-watering $6.7bn, new figures reveal.

Government analysis of the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program – a shopping list of projects under way across the state – reveals the cost of delivering the infrastructure agenda has increased by $6.7bn.

Some $37.4bn has been allocated across the forward estimates, meaning the total cost of the program will exceed at least $44.1bn.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the biggest blowout was on the 9.5km Mackay Port access road, which has increased from $350m to $1.49bn – an increase of 327 per cent.

Building stage five of the Cairns Southern Access Corridor increased $373m to $598m while the Cairns Western Arterial Road project jumped $338m to $638m.

The bill for nine projects has increased by more than $100m while 73 others, including a guide to establish local walking networks, increased by $1m or less.

Many of the projects are cost shared with the Commonwealth and which level of government will foot the bill for the increases is unclear.

Shadow treasurer Shannon Fentiman this week. Picture: Annette Dew

Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said releasing the cost increases was about “laying it bare” as the government moved forward.

“If you want another example of Labor’s neglect, incompetence, and deceit, here it is,” he said.

“The Crisafulli government is acting fast to get projects back on track and has already paused Best Practice Industry Conditions to restore productivity and has secured 80:20 funding with the federal government for a $9bn jointly funded program for safety upgrades on the Bruce Highway.

Cairns Southern Access Corridor increased $373m to $598m. Picture: Supplied

“I have a clear focus to deliver projects on time and on budget by improving planning estimates and risk assessments, improving design accuracy and engaging industry early for a collaborative approach to projects.”

Opposition transport spokesman Bart Mellish accused Mr Mickelberg of whinging and gearing up to cut projects.

“Brent Mickelberg hasn’t turned a sod or cut a ribbon on one single transport project since becoming Transport Minister, but he has had more than 10 press conferences complaining about how hard his job is,” he said.

“But there is no sympathy for him from Queenslanders sitting in traffic who are all thinking the same thing, just do your job mate.

“He clearly doesn’t understand the difference between a budget allocation and a cost estimate.

“Most of these projects are in the planning stages, including the Mackay Port Access Road which is going through the early stages of a business case.”

Mr Mickelberg said the government would be transparent about increases to projects.

However, in December Mr Mickelberg was criticised by the Opposition for “cooking the books” in claiming the cost of Cross River Rail had increased from $5.4bn to $17bn.

Shadow treasurer Shannon Fentiman said Mr Mickelberg had included the cost of upgrades to train stations on the Gold Coast, new buses for South East Queensland and train signalling in the total cost of the project.