IEPro Recruitment

QLD Gov delivers draft 20-year infrastructure strategy

The Queensland Government has today released a detailed program of its four-year $52.2 billion infrastructure spend, as well as a draft vision for the state’s infrastructure needs over the next two decades.

Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Steven Miles today announced the two major initiatives at the IAQ Infrastructure Assembly in Brisbane.

Mr Miles is encouraging Queenslanders to have their say on the draft 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy (SIS), a key part of Queensland’s economic recovery.

“Queensland is in the box seat to seize the opportunities ahead of us over the next two decades,” Mr Miles said.

“We’ve just joined the list of Olympic and Paralympic cities, our pandemic response has been world-class, our population is booming, and Queensland has the potential to become a renewables and hydrogen superpower.

“All of these achievements are possible through the right infrastructure, a critical component of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan and our future prosperity.

“We already have a huge head start, with a $52.2 billion infrastructure investment that will turbo-charge more growth and jobs for Queenslanders.

“The draft State Infrastructure Strategy sets out our approach to connecting our regions and creating liveable communities with essential services and infrastructure across Queensland like the schools, hospitals and roads that our growing state will need into the future.”

Along with the draft State Infrastructure Strategy, the Queensland Government Infrastructure Pipeline (QGIP) was also released today.

The Pipeline includes the four-year $52.2 billion capital program and potential future proposals currently under development by the Queensland Government.

“We have a pipeline of infrastructure projects that are creating jobs and boosting our economic recovery,” Mr Miles said.

“The Queensland Government Infrastructure Pipeline includes more than 1000 projects in delivery and planning, will provide industry with further confidence to invest in Queensland.

In 2021-22, the Queensland Government has allocated a record $14.7 billion to infrastructure programs, with more than 60 per cent being spent outside Greater Brisbane. This is expected to directly support around 46,500 jobs – nearly 30,000 of these in the regions.

Stakeholder engagement has been fundamental to shaping the draft strategy, with 13 regional workshops held across Queensland earlier in the year. These were attended by more than 270 stakeholders, in addition to more than 200 responses received through online engagement.

Further consultation and feedback will be undertaken to ensure the SIS sets out the right infrastructure priorities and reforms for Queensland.

The strategy will be supported by seven regional infrastructure plans to better reflect the unique strengths and opportunities of each region, and the important role infrastructure plays in economic recovery, resilience, growth, and liveability.

The SIS follows on from the previous State Infrastructure Plan and its annual program of updates released between 2016 and 2020.

Comment can be provided online with consultation opening today (9 September) and set to close on 7 October 2021: https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/state-infrastructure-strategy

To view the QGIP visit: https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/industry/infrastructure/infrastructure-planning-and-policy

Work underway on Perth’s new Redcliffe bridge

The new Redcliffe bridge is shaping up across Perth’s Swan River, forming a key part of the Tonkin Gap Project.

The Tonkin Gap project is being delivered by the Tonkin Gap alliance, comprised of BMD, Georgiou Group, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD.

As part of the project, the alliance is modifying the existing Redcliffe bridge to accomodate eight lanes, while building a new western bridge with two additional lanes.

Two bridge segments for the new bridge have recently been launched, with preparation well underway for the third segment launch.

A total of 17 bridge segments will be constructed on site and incrementally launched across the Swan River from the south-west side of Redcliffe Bridge, with each bridge segment to move up to 18 metres every two to three weeks.

When complete, the bridges will each have six lanes of traffic with four additional lanes for commuters to get to and from Great Eastern Highway. These upgrades are anticipated to save commuters up to six minutes during morning peak and up to 11 minutes in the afternoon.

The construction method, also used on the Mandurah Bridge and the Mount Henry Bridge, will minimise the impact to the Swan River and surrounds.

The Redcliffe bridge upgrade is part of the broader Tonkin Gap Project, with total contract cost estimated to be $400 million. The project is upgrading the Tonkin Highway with additional lanes, new interchanges, bridges and a shared path between Collier Road and Dunreath Drive.

Widening Tonkin Highway is also on track with the construction of new bridge footings, piers and abutments for four new bridges over Railway Parade and Guildford Road.

Sixty bridge beams, made locally in Georgiou Group’s precast facility in Hazelmere, will be installed over the next year – the biggest being 35 metres long and weighing 135 tonnes.

This October, 18 beams will be installed on the eastern Railway Parade Bridge.

When Railway Parade and Guildford Road bridge works are complete, traffic will be shifted onto the new lanes and bridges, improving traffic flow, safety and road geometry.

Work continues on the Great Eastern Highway upgrades with a new loop ramp to be built providing free-flowing access for commuters travelling north on Tonkin Highway.

The project is also delivering enabling works for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line, with major piling works underway on the southern dive structure.

The project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments.

Central QLD prepares for its biggest infrastructure project

Central Queensland is preparing for its biggest infrastructure project to date, the $1 billion Rockhampton Ring Road, with the state’s Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey this week holding meetings with potential suppliers to the project.

With an $800 million funding committed from the Federal Government and another $200 million from the Queensland Government, the project aims to deliver a new 14.7 kilometre ring road with a total of 17.4 kilometres of new road to be constructed.

The ring road will link the Bruce Highway through Rockhampton extending from the Capricorn Highway (Nelson Street), to Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road/Bruce Highway intersection and will include a new crossing of the Fitzroy River at Pink Lily.

Minister Bailey said the project would create extensive opportunities for local contractors, after many benefited from the Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade, which is nearing completion.

“Over the next four years the Palaszczuk Government is delivering a record $27.5 billion roads and transport plan which is creating 24,000 jobs and driving Queensland economic recovery from COVID-19,” Mr Bailey said.

“A key part of this record investment is working with local contractors and suppliers to build a strong and diverse economy.”

The Rockhampton Ring Road project is expected to support an average of 783 direct jobs. In comparison, the $194 million Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade, which is almost finished, supported 261 direct jobs.

Jacobs SMEC Design Joint Venture has been appointed to deliver the detailed design for the project, with the design already gone through community review. Construction for the project is expected to commence in 2022 and run until 2026.

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the Rockhampton Ring Road project would boost local businesses in the city.

“With construction kicking off next year, we’ll need materials, workers, traffic management, drilling and piling services, fencing, cleaning and security services, accommodation, fuel and vehicle maintenance,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“We want contractors and suppliers in Central Queensland to reap the economic rewards when the Palaszczuk Government delivers the Rockhampton Ring Road project.”

The Bruce Highway is Queensland’s major north-south freight and commuter corridor, connecting coastal population centres from Brisbane to Cairns over 1,677 kilometres.

The existing Bruce Highway through Rockhampton is one of the last remaining pinch points between Brisbane and Cairns, with 19 sets of traffic signals to navigate.

Traffic volumes on the Bruce Highway in Central Queensland range from 2,600 vehicles per day in rural sections to 35,000 vehicles per day in urban centres.

For more information about the project, click here.

Federal funding for Gold Coast Light Rail

The Gold Coast Light Rail project will receive $126.6 million in federal funding to create more jobs, boost investment and improve local transport connections.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the additional funding for Stage 3 of the project would help to ensure more Gold Coast commuters get home sooner and safer.

“This additional funding brings our total commitment to Stage 3 of the light rail to $395.6 million and demonstrates our government’s continued commitment to helping deliver what is the most significant transport infrastructure project ever carried out on the Gold Coast,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This stage of the project is expected to directly support 760 jobs while also improving the speed, reliability and service frequency of the light rail system, and helping to further bust local congestion.”

Queensland Minister for Transport and Mains Roads, the Hon Mark Bailey MP, said the Federal and State Governments’ commitment to expanding the Gold Coast light rail would help to further reduce congestion on the city’s roads.

“There is an infrastructure boom supporting the Gold Coast’s economic recovery right now thanks to the strong partnership between our governments that is focused on building better roads and rail,” Mr Bailey said.

“Major M1 upgrades, upcoming works on the jointly-funded $1.5 billion first stage of the Coomera Connector and the extension of the light rail to Burleigh will transform how Gold Coast locals and tourists travel around the city.”

Federal Member for Moncrieff, Angie Bell, said Stage 3 of the light rail would help locals move around the city more easily, with the extension of the existing system by approximately 6.7km to the south, from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.

“Stage 3 is a critical project that will include eight new light rail stations, upgraded pedestrian and cycling facilities, and an upgraded bus and rail interchange at Burleigh Heads Station,” Ms Bell said.

“Extending the previous, jointly funded Stage 1 and Stage 2 projects, which connect to the heavy rail network at Helensvale, this will provide better access to jobs, schools, shopping, services and recreational facilities.”

Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, said, “This is a huge announcement for our city and underscores the benefits of all three tiers of government working together.

“Light rail is our city’s public transport spine. Having this funding certainty also means we can continue our investigations into the vital east-west connections that will feed off the main light rail corridor. It’s a great day for our city.”

The Federal Government has committed $395.6 million, the Queensland Government $553.95 million and the City of Gold Coast $91.5 million to fund Gold Coast Light Rail – Stage 3.