Barron River bridge: Transport minister ‘looking forward’ to informing community

The state government will not provide a timeline for its Barron River bridge fix, three weeks after the Prime Minister awarded $245m in taxpayers’ money towards the failing structure.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged $245m in funding to build a new Barron River Bridge which links Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands. Picture: Catherine Duffy

The state government will not provide a timeline for its Barron River Bridge fix, three weeks after the Prime Minister awarded $245m in taxpayers’ money towards the failing structure.

Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg has been unable to confirm when the now completed business case for the bridge will be released publicly, the total cost of the project or when and how the Commonwealth allocation of $245m will be spent, after it was included in the March 25 federal budget.

Cairns MP Michael Healy last week doubled down on his calls urging the state government to release the document to the public.

“The business case for this project is gathering dust and, quite frankly, we’re sick of waiting,” Mr Healy said.

Deputy Opposition leader Cameron Dick with Cairns MP Michael Healy at the Barron River Bridge outside Kuranda. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“By the time the LNP crack on with delivering a solution to the Barron River Bridge we may not need one because we’ll have flying cars. I’m a patient man, but this is getting ridiculous.”

Mr Healy said after the Prime Minister and Infrastructure Australia had awarded the funds for the project, it was now time “David Crisafulli and the LNP gives the Far North some answers”.

At a February State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee, TMR deputy director general of infrastructure Julie Mitchell said the business case for the bridge had been completed.

A spokesman for the minister said his government was “looking forward to informing the community of its plan... once it has been finalised”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits the Barron River Bridge north west of Cairns near Kuranda, joined by Labor candidate for Leichhardt Matt Smith, to announce a $245 million commitment from a re-elected Labor government towards a new bridge on the Kennedy Highway, a main link for Far North Queensland. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

“We welcome the federal government’s funding commitment to help us get on with the job of delivering for the Far North – funding which the former state Labor government was never able to secure,” the spokesman said.

“The Barron bridge was left in a total state of disrepair due to a decade of neglect under Labor. The Crisafulli government will deliver on this important infrastructure commitment to Far North communities.”

Last year, Mr Mickelberg said the LNP would be “open and transparent” about information regarding Queensland projects.

State Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg received briefings of works being conducted on the Kuranda Range Rd and Barron River Bridge during a visit on December 4. Picture: Facebook

“You asked whether I’d hide behind a particular study or not. The answer is no,” Mr Mickelberg said when asked if he accepted the findings of the Cairns to Northern Tablelands Access Strategy report.

“My view is that we need to be open and transparent, even when it’s inconvenient.”

Infrastructure Australia accepted the funding request for evaluation on February 6 and in its project summary noted: “The proposal aims to improve travel reliability, road capacity, freight access, and safety by providing a long-term solution which addresses structural issues.”

Originally published as Barron River bridge: Transport minister ‘looking forward’ to informing community