Gold Coast major projects pipeline: why Brisbane steams ahead with road and rail
A report has been released which shows spending on major projects on the Gold Coast lags behind almost every other area in Queensland, and is only a fraction of what is being spent on Brisbane. SEE THE SHOCKING FIGURES
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THE Gold Coast is lagging behind Brisbane and other regional centres in terms of major project work for the next five years, according to a new report.
The Glitter Strip has $900 million committed in funded work, which compares to $6.7 billion for Brisbane, $3.4 billion for Mackay, $4.1 billion for Ipswich-Toowoomba-Logan and $1.4 billion for the Sunshine Coast.
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The 2019 Major Projects Pipeline report highlights the impact of Cross River Rail in Brisbane and the Toowoomba Range Crossing along with the inland rail project through the Darling Downs.
The Coast has “roads activity” and a small number of sewerage projects, providing three per cent or $903 million of Queensland’s funded major work pipeline to 2022-23.
The Queensland Major Contractors Association said the findings were “mixed news” and admitted that despite a plea last year there was still not enough funded work to avoid a decline in major project activity in the next 12 months.
“And while the overall size of the pipeline is roughly the same as last year, much more of the pipeline is weighted towards the latter years of the forecast — and much of this remains unfunded,” the report said.
Researchers acknowledged the Coast was Queensland’s fastest growing region and that the average of $181 million of funded project work per year was a 207 per cent increase compared to the previous average for the past five years.
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But 31 per cent of the key projects for the city remain unfunded included the duplication of the Jabiru Island Bridges and Gold Coast light rail stage three which will cost $500 million.
Both the Federal Coalition and Labor have pledged $112 million for light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh.
While the council and State Government remain supportive their funding has yet to get the budget green light.
The Palaszczuk Government is hoping that apart from upgrades to the southern section of the M1, the Coast will benefit from a potential $1 billion global tourism hub and The Spit masterplan, which identified $205 million of commercial development.
But LNP infrastructure spokesman Andrew Powell slammed the Government after the report revealed funding to major Queensland projects will plummet from $6.1 billion in 2018/19 to $4.6 billion in 2019/20.
“For too long the Labor Palaszczuk Government has neglected major Gold Coast infrastructure projects,” Mr Powell said.
“Over the next five years, the Gold Coast will only receive $0.9 billion for major projects compared to Brisbane which will receive $6.7 billion. The Premier’s priorities are all wrong.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to get her foot off the brake, for the sake of the Coast. Only the LNP has a plan to invest in major projects like the second M1 that will bust-congestion and improve roads for Gold Coast residents.”
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