Budget features roads and rail for the Coast but how much is new money?

Hundreds of millions of dollars in the Federal Budget are earmarked for upgrading the Bruce Highway around the Coast - but very little of it is new funding.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in the 2020 Federal Budget are earmarked for upgrading the Bruce Hwy around the Sunshine Coast - but very little of it is new funding.

This year's budget papers mention more than $2.3 billion in funding to upgrade the Bruce Hwy throughout the Sunshine Coast, including $745 million to upgrade Caloundra Rd to the Sunshine Motorway and $739m to upgrade the Bruce's Pine Rivers to Caloundra corridor.

Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Michael McCormack said upgrading the Bruce Hwy was a "nation building" project.

The 2020 Federal Budget has promised funding to upgrade the Bruce Hwy around the Sunshine Coast, but most of the money was already announced.

"We are building on our long-term commitment of $10 billion on the Bruce Highway in Queensland and we are also looking to the future with $20 million towards the Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy to develop future investment priorities on this key Queensland corridor," he said.

Outside upgrading the Bruce Hwy, the budget also promised $390 million for the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail upgrade and a further $5m for a southern Sunshine Coast roads improvement study.

But most of the announcements had already been funded and were not new commitments.

One new commitment was $20 million for a Brisbane to Cairns Bruce Hwy upgrade strategy.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also promised $100m in funding for tourism projects across regional Australia in an attempt to help regions hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Our region may benefit from the $30.3m national Regional Connectivity Program, which will help improve telecommunications connectivity in regional areas.

Other commitments that may benefit our residents and businesses include:

•An extension of the $200m Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) for a fifth round;

•$41 m for a Research and Development Program to pay for research and development activities that will benefit regional industries;

•An additional $28.1m to extend the Stronger Communities Program;

•The $5.7m Building Strong, Resilient Regional Leaders initiative; and

•The $5m for the Regional Australia Institute's research program and promotion of regional living.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud also announced more than $300 million in funding to help modernise Australia's agriculture export systems.

"Agricultural exports are critical to Australia's economic recovery. That's why this Budget is delivering the $328 million Busting Congestion for Agricultural Exporters Package," Mr Littleproud said.

"This suite of reforms will modernise Australia's export systems by slashing red-tape and streamlining regulation and service delivery for our farmers."

"We're making it faster and cheaper for farmers to get their product to market, while retaining the levels of quality and assurance that have made our exports world-class."

The package includes $222.2m over four years for digital services to take farmers to market, including a 24/7 touch point for exporters and $10.9m over three years to create a more competitive meat export industry. - WITH SHERELE MOODY

 

2020 FEDERAL BUDGET SUNSHINE COAST INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMITMENTS & NEW FUNDING PROMISES INCLUDE:

 

• Bruce Highway Upgrade Program - Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway $745.6m
• Bruce Highway Upgrade Program - Pine River to Caloundra Corridor $739.15m
• Bruce Highway Upgrade Program - Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way $530m
• Bruce Highway Upgrade Program - Maroochydore Road and Mons Road Interchanges Upgrade $241m
• Bruce Highway Upgrade Program - Gateway Motorway to Caloundra Road Interchange $84m
• Bruce Highway Upgrade Program - Pine River to Caloundra Interchange, Planning $8m
• Southern Sunshine Coast Roads Improvement Study $5m
• Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade $390m
• Bribie Island Road Upgrade $20m
• Targeted Road Safety Works - Glasshouse Mountains Road (Beerburrum and Palmview) $14.4m