News Limited papers last week foreshadowed an announcement by the Federal Government of $5 billion in road spending commitments.
The Daily Telegraph and Courier Mail both reported last Friday that the funding allocations had been signed off by senior ministers earlier that week, and that details would be announced this week.
The reports were in part confirmed with yesterday’s announcement by the Government of $2 billion in funding for the Bruce Highway (see below).
To date, there have been no other announcements.
The Courier Mail said the bulk of the $5 billion would be earmarked for Queensland, with funding for key Brisbane roads including the proposed northern link tunnel between Toowong and Kelvin Grove.
The Daily Telegraph said the Pacific Highway was set to receive $1 billion - although today’s Sydney Morning Herald, quoting Coalition sources, said it would receive funding on par with the $2 billion Bruce Highway allocation.
The Herald also said the money would come out of the $22.3 billion AusLink II package announced in the May Budget.
According to the Courier Mail, Victoria and South Australia will be overlooked in this round of funding announcements.
The Prime Minister yesterday announced funding of $2 billion for a major upgrade of the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns, with a major focus on North Queensland between Sarina and Cairns.
The $2 billion will be invested over five years from 2009, with the Prime Minister promising further investment to follow by 2020. It comes on top of the $800 million currently committed to the Highway over 2004/05 to 2008/9.
North Queensland will receive the majority of the new funding, with Sarina to Cairns receiving $800 million over the five years to 2014. Priorities include:
The balance of the funds will be allocated on a priority basis for works between Sarina and Brisbane.
This will include $450 million to upgrade the highway between Sarina and Gympie, more overtaking lanes and safer intersections including the interchange between the Bruce and Dawson Highways, safer southern highway access to Gin Gin and upgrades to the failing bitumen on the Sunshine Coast section of the highway.
The PM’s announcement drew lukewarm responses yesterday in both Queensland and Victoria.
Queensland Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the funding was long overdue, and in any event had been previously announced.
“The Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile admitted on radio today that this announcement is simply recycling the funds announced at the time of the Federal Budget in May for the AusLink II scheme,” Mr Pitt said.
In Victoria, Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas accused the Federal Government of sending Victorian roads funding to marginal seats in Queensland.
Mr Pallas said the Commonwealth had to date committed $4.75 billion to Queensland, while denying funding for Victoria’s Western Highway connecting Melbourne to Adelaide.
Minister Pallas’ sentiments were echoed by the RACV, which called for a fairer share of road funding for Victoria.
RACV General Manager, Public Policy, Brian Negus, said the Commonwealth needed to acknowledge that Victoria was the transport hub of Australia and contributed 25 per cent of the national economy.
ARF has renewed its call for a unified approach to road planning, management and funding across all levels of government ahead of this year’s Federal election.
ARF President, Ray Fisher, says the upcoming election provides an opportune time for all road industry stakeholders - both public and private sector - to commit to a long-term, national reform agenda for road infrastructure planning and funding.
“While the majority of players in both government and industry agree on the need for a national approach to land transport infrastructure, practical co-operation is the key,” he said.
“All stakeholders need to come together in a spirit of co-operation, and to work to establish a clearly defined set of roles and responsibilities that promotes a program approach to planning and funding.”
Mr Fisher also called for debate on the bipartisan assessment of national road needs and funding.
“National infrastructure funding needs to move beyond politics and borders,” he said.
“We need long-term planning and funding commitments that are not tied to traditional government budgetary cycles or political terms of office.
“AusLink I and II are certainly steps in the right direction, as are some recent initiatives by state governments, but more needs to be done.”
Mr Fisher said the current skills crisis underlined the need for firm, long-term planning and funding commitments.
“The staff and plant resources required to build our roads take more years to develop than the current planning horizons to which most governments are prepared to commit,” he said.
Other objectives on ARF’s policy agenda include:
For more information on ARF policies click here.
The Federal Government has committed up to $20 million for a major planning and engineering assessment of the best route for a motorway connection over the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.
Transport Minister Mark Vaile says the Coalition Government will fund the entire cost of the study because of what he says is the NSW Government's failure to support it.
In response to Mr Vaile’s statement, NSW Roads Minister, Eric Roozendaal, was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald as saying the Federal Government had previously committed to a study of a Bells Line super highway and ruled it out.
Meantime, the NRMA has welcomed the announcement of the study funding.
Local Director Graham Blight said the Bells Line Expressway would bring many benefits to the community, including a boost to the regional economy and improved travel conditions along the existing routes currently experiencing congestion.
"The NRMA will eagerly await the findings of the study so we can continue to campaign for the expressway to be built," Mr Blight said.
Baulderstone Hornibrook was this week confirmed as the successful contractor to deliver Brisbane’s $63.3 million Tank Street pedestrian/bicycle bridge.
Work on the project is expected to commence this month.
The bridge will provide an essential link from Roma Street Parkland, the Brisbane Magistrates Courts and proposed Supreme Courts and District Courts projects to the Queensland Cultural Centre and South Bank.
It will also complete a pedestrian and cycle loop linking the city and South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge.
Baulderstone Hornibrook was selected and announced as preferred tenderer in March after a selection process that started in October last year, when three contractors were invited to participate in the design competition stage of the project.
“The announcement of Baulderstone Hornibrook as the successful contractor follows a six month period in which the design was further developed, and a thorough review by the Department of Public Works of the company’s submitted tender,” said Acting Public Works Minister, Judy Spence.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2009.
Artists impressions and more information on the project are available at www.publicworks.qld.gov.au/showcase/tankstbridge.cfm
The ABN AMRO and Leighton Contractors consortium's acquisition of Sydney’s Cross City Motorway for $A695 million was completed on September 27.
The consortium ownership vehicle will be CCT Motorway Group Holdings Pty Limited.
Ken Dawson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer with responsibility for daily operations, effective from mid-October. Mr Dawson was formerly General Manager of Airport Motorways Ltd, operator of the Eastern Distributor, and Chief Financial Officer of Sydney Roads Group.
The consortium has confirmed that the toll will remain unchanged for the moment.
“CCT Motorway will undertake a full review of the asset over the next few months and this will include looking at who our customers are, their usage patterns, adequacy of signage, and opportunities to maximise the value of the Tunnel to motorists,” said Interim Board Chairman and ABN AMRO Head of Structured Finance in Australia, John Martin.
The 2007 Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA) Pavements Industry Conference will be held at the Dockside Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney, from October 21 to 24.
The conference’s opening address will be given by Les Wielinga, NSW RTA Chief Executive Officer.
International speakers include:
Full registration covers the social program, including a Welcome Cocktail Function, Happy Hour, Dinner Dance and Harbour Cruise.
There is an Accompanying Persons Program - so partners are encouraged to attend. A balanced technical program, supplemented by a relevant exhibition, will make this conference the highlight of this year’s flexible pavements calendar.
Please see the conference website for general information and venue information.
For further information, contact Denise McQueen at Hallmark Conferences + Events by phoning (03) 8534 5021 or email denise.mcqueen@halledit.com.au
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday October 5th 2007 1:56pm
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