Enterprise CEO says Budget puts region on road to riches
TOOWOOMBA and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Shane Charles believes the $700 million commitment to the Second Range Crossing is a good deal for Toowoomba residents.
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TOOWOOMBA and Surat Basin Enterprise chief executive officer Shane Charles believes the $700 million commitment to the Second Range Crossing in the 2014 Budget is a good deal for Toowoomba residents.
"To give Ian Macfarlane credit where credit is due, he has put his money where his mouth is. He has again confirmed that the Second Range Crossing will be built," Mr Charles said.
The Budget confirmed that should private funding not be found, the Federal Government would commit to funding 80 per cent of the cost of the project, while the Queensland Government has already given its commitment to funding the remaining 20%.
"This is a massive project for the wider region, not just Toowoomba. It will be Australia's largest road project in Inland Australia," Mr Charles said.
To fund this and other pieces of infrastructure, the Federal Government has announced a fuel excise increase, with a guarantee that the increase will be directed towards infrastructure.
"In rural and regional Queensland, we are most concerned with fuel increases and the impact they have on all of us, but particularly our farmers," Mr Charles
"The reality is that this will add one cent per annum to the fuel price. One cent per litre, to again guarantee the long awaited and needed Second Range Crossing, is a good deal for the region's residents."
Other projects announced (or reconfirmed) of relevance to the region were the Warrego Highway upgrade between Toowoomba and Miles valued at $508 million, the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail pre-construction funding of $300 million, and the Ipswich Motorway (Rocklea to Darra) upgrade of $279 million.
The government also announced a Mining and Exploration Development Incentive aimed at smaller companies to explore for new opportunities.
"For our region in particular, this is welcomed news as the mining sector plays a significant part in our region's economy," Mr Charles said.
Originally published as Enterprise CEO says Budget puts region on road to riches
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