The stalled Rockhampton Ring Road project will hurt Capricorn Coast tourism and businesses - here’s why

The stalled $1.1 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project is just another hammer blow to the wounded Capricorn Coast tourism industry and businesses - here’s why.

Great Keppel Island (pictured) and the Capricorn Coast’s tourism industry is in the spotlight as the fallout from the stalled Rockhampton Ring Road project continues.

Still recovering from the impacts of the Covid pandemic and wondering whether the Great Keppel Island and Iwasaki resorts’ “glory days” will ever return, the Capricorn Coast’s wounded tourism industry and businesses have been hit with a new hammer blow.

Perhaps forgotten in all the “hoo-ha” since it was revealed in October that the Federal Government has had to delay the $1.1 billion Rockhampton Ring Road project that was due to start construction in 2023 because of a cost blowout, is the impact that will be felt along the coastal fringe.

Not only would the project, which included a third crossing across the Fitzroy River, have provided a shot in the arm for Rockhampton but Livingstone Shire as well.

This was highlighted at Livingstone’s November council meeting when Mayor Andy Ireland asked his councillor colleagues to support taking action.

Livingstone Shire Mayor Andy Ireland.

Livingstone council documents state that as well as being “a devastating blow” to Rockhampton Regional Council, the impact of the Ring Road project’s “deferral” is “quite significant for Livingstone Shire Council”.

“The Rockhampton Ring Road design saw the road’s conclusion to the north at an intersection to be constructed directly opposite the entrance to the Yeppoon-Rockhampton Road,” the documents state.

“This link is considered critical to expanded tourist and business visitation to the Capricorn Coast and its immediate hinterland.”

The council documents also say the deferral or cancellation of the Ring Road would “obliterate” the opportunity that was previously available.

“The northern exit of the Ring Road would also provide enhanced access to Livingstone Shire’s northern suburbs, and has been contemplated in the strategic planning that has occurred in relation to development of the northern corridor,” the documents state.

“The logistical benefits of this access are significant, as future residential, commercial, and agribusiness growth will benefit from improved linkages to the Bruce Highway from the south, and the Capricorn Highway from the west.”

The picturesque Great Keppel Island, off Yeppoon, in Central Queensland.

Mr Ireland said the Ring Road’s conclusion to the north would have been “a wonderful strategic advantage” for Livingstone Shire in terms of tourism and potential tourism.

He wanted Livingstone to take an official stance and ask for the Rockhampton Ring Road project to be reinstated into the 2023/24 Federal and State Budgets with sufficient funding to reduce the entire project without reducing its scope.

Further, Mr Ireland wanted Livingstone to seek commitments from both federal and state governments to commence construction of the Rockhampton Ring Road within the 2023/24 financial year.

The mayor’s vision was supported by all councillors and as such, the course of action was unanimously endorsed.

Last month, Australian Constructors Association chief executive officer Jon Davies slammed the Queensland Government, saying most of the cost blowout with the Rockhampton Ring Road project was avoidable.

Business conditions in Livingstone Shire have been the subject of community debate in recent times with it quite obvious that there are numerous empty shop spaces in Yeppoon’s main street, while the uncertainty over the future of Great Keppel Island lingers.

Also this month, Livingstone won an important battle to keep the three suburbs of Glenlee, Glendale and Rockyview as part of the shire.