Anthony Albanese, Steven Miles visit Rockhampton Ring Road site
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made his second visit to Central Queensland since being elected, reaffirming his commitment to one of the state’s biggest infrastructure projects.
Rockhampton
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stopped in Central Queensland for the second time since winning the 2021 Federal Election, and addressed about one of the biggest topics for infrastructure in the region.
Mr Albanese, Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Queensland Senator Murray Watt, Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke and Keppel MP Brittany Lauga all visited the Radio 4US building on the corner of the Bruce Highway and Yeppoon road, which will make way for the Rockhampton Ring Road.
The radio station will move across the road and be based at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre.
Mr Albanese and Mr Miles reaffirmed the commitment of both the federal and state governments for the billion-dollar project, with work expected to begin in the second half of this year.
The ring road will take about 2600 heavy vehicles out of the Rockhampton CBD away from 19 sets of traffic lights and 56 intersections.
The Prime Minister said the project was “complex” but “ready to go”.
“$280 million will be brought forward to commence a project that will cost more than a billion dollars. We're still doing the final costings... but we want to make sure this project gets done and gets done as quickly as possible,” Mr Albanese said.
“Here on site already we're seeing early works under way to get this project up and running as soon as possible.
“This project will create hundreds of jobs. It will mean that more than 2600 heavy vehicles each and every day are taken out of the CBD of Rockhampton.
“That will make an enormous difference in terms of road safety, efficiency and productivity benefits, job creation in the short-term in construction, but also a part of nation building.”
Acting Premier Steven Miles said the Rockhampton Ring Road was one of the “most important infrastructure projects” in the state.
He said the first phase of works on the ring road would get under way in 2023.
“We’ve completed the land acquisitions required (and) a local contractor has secured the first contract that was awarded in December last year,” he said.
“There will be more contracts awarded, utility providers are already doing the relocations they need to do.”
Start Rockhampton Ring Road Group member and SMW Group CEO Jack Trenaman said the visit was encouraging.
“Any announcement is great when it comes to infrastructure for the greater Rockhampton region, it’s something we don’t experience enough of,” he said.
“We’ve said right through our campaign we give credit where credit is due regardless of what political party it’s in, Rockhampton region all going well has secured this project to get started in 2023 like what was originally committed.
“So it’s good news and we’re looking forward to the local content and everything else that going to be part of this project.”
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