No money in LNP’s first budget for promised Mackay-Bucasia Rd, Peak Downs Hwy upgrades

A sitting MP has skipped parliament to call out the state’s ‘lack of transparency’ as two crucial Mackay roads missed out on this year’s budget spending spree — despite being promised $40m in total.

Labor MP Lance McCallum speaking at the Bluewater Quay about the Crisafulli Government’s first budget during a parliamentary sitting week on June 25, 2025.

A sitting Labor MP has skipped parliament to call out the LNP government for leaving out timelines and costs for major road upgrades around Mackay.

It comes after the Crisafulli Government yesterday handed down the 2025-2026 state budget, revealing a $13bn shortfall in infrastructure spending over the next four years with neither Mackay Bucasia Rd and Peak Downs Hwy upgrades receiving a specific cut of funding.

Labor MP Lance McCallum made the trip from Brisbane to Mackay today to call out the government’s ‘lack of transparency’, defending his decision to skip parliament as “necessary”.

Premier David Crisafulli announced his government’s first state budget on Tuesday, June 2024. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

“What the new LNP transport minister is doing with the Queensland Transport and Infrastructure Program and how that’s publicly reported is out of step with how projects and their timelines have been completed for a long time by governments of all different colours,” he said.

“That should be in the budget. It is completely normal for projects that are about to go out for tender for their cost allocation to be in budget papers. It’s not there.”

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the Mackay Whitsunday region would receive $1.1bn over the next four years in roads, rail, buses and other infrastructure.

According to QTRIP, planning is underway for the Mackay Bucasia Rd and Golf Links Rd intersection with procurement processes expected to begin between 2026 and 2027,

while works on upgrading Peak Downs Hwy overtaking lanes and a Kirkup Bridge in Walkerston are expected to commence the procurement process during the same period.

“Upgrades to Shute Harbour Road are due to start in coming weeks, as outlined in QTRIP, while planning is underway for the Shute Harbour boat ramp and carpark project,” he said.

“This is due to go to procurement in 2026/27.”

Cost estimates for Mackay roads funding have not yet been released to not compete with tendering processes. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Upgrades on an overtaking lane west of Nebo are yet to have a business case delivered for the project with all upgrades along the Peak Downs subject to cost and timing changes.

Congestion-busting along the state government-owned Mackay Bucasia Road was a focal point in the state election with local MP Amanda Camm promising $20m to begin works.

LNP Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm with now LNP MP Nigel Dalton campaigning outside Mackay State High School promising funds for hall upgrades on October 14, 2024 before the state election. Picture: Paul Brescia

The 11km section is the only access route from the Bruce Hwy to the fast growing Northern Beaches which was projected to grow by 38 per cent from 2021 to 2036.

Mirani MP Glen Kelly also committed $20m to the Peak Downs Highway, saying last week that he was “optimistic” the project was “front and centre in government planning”.

It followed calls from Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea demanding her region saw a return on their coal “in the form of road investment”.

Since 2001 the Peak Downs Hwy has been the site of an estimated 904 traffic crashes and between 2009 and 2019, 49 people lost their lives on the road.

A promised $3m in funding for Mackay North State High and Mackay State High school was also left out of the budget though plans to deliver a new tuckshop and refurbish a school hall will come under the $70.68m School and Education Boost funding.

“As the projects are yet to go to tender, releasing cost estimates at this stage could compromise the competitive tendering process,” a spokeswoman for the Department of Education said.

Game on! for local sport, health and housing

Meanwhile, the LNPs budget will see the delivery of 128 new beds for the Mackay hospital expansion and a $18.5 million boost to refurbish the Mackay Community Mental Health building.

The budget also revealed a commitment to grow the Mackay Hospital workforce by 2,995.

Mackay and the Whitsundays will get a share of the $250 million Games On! Grassroots Infrastructure program with Proserpine Rugby League Football Club receiving $75,000 for clubhouse upgrades and North Mackay Saints receiving $450 million to replace old and inefficient lighting at Zeolla Park in Andergrove.

The Sarina Swim Centre also received a $30,000 paycheck for a feasibility study on the Sarina Swim Centre’s needs, safety and compliance while Mackay Netball Association received $1.6 million to build shade protection over four courts.

The Mackay musical Comedy Players will get their promised $250,000 funding for facility upgrades including a new rehearsal space.

Homeless support charity Chances House in Mackay will benefit from a $1m injection into the Australia Street Aid Project and $5.2m in funding will go towards developing St Vincent de Paul Society’s existing community support centre in Mackay.

It comes as an announced $44.1 million to expand and improve social and community housing in Mackay and Whitsundays with 110 social homes in construction or under contract.

Originally published as No money in LNP’s first budget for promised Mackay-Bucasia Rd, Peak Downs Hwy upgrades