A $500m project will upgrade freight routes to support the Queensland cattle industry.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said a $47.5 million early works package would kickstart work on four key beef freight routes.
“The early works package begins with sealing a priority section of Clermont–Alpha Road, approximately 89 kilometres north of Alpha in the Barcaldine Region,” Minister King said.
She said Queensland’s beef cattle industry was world class and made an incredible contribution to the nation’s economy.
“This first project marks a significant milestone in the upgrades of the beef road network, which is good for our nation’s freight productivity, good for Central Queenslanders, and good for our truckies who use these roads every day.”
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg said the Central Queensland Beef Corridor road network were critical routes for cattle freight.
Minister Mickelberg said the landmark $500 million Queensland Beef Roads program would progressively upgrade and seal critical freight routes across an area the size of Great Britain.
He said the early works was the first step in a 10-year investment strategy to improve transport efficiency, safety, and resilience for Queensland’s world-class beef industry.
“The early works package forms part of the Central Queensland Beef Roads Investment Strategy (CQBRIS), which has been developed in partnership with seven regional councils forming the Queensland Beef Corridors (QBC) group, industry, and both levels of government.”
Minister Mickelberg said the CQBRIS sets out priorities to seal nine key beef corridor roads to help strengthen supply chains, reduce costs, and support economic growth across Central Queensland.
“Alongside the Clermont–Alpha Road works, the early works package will deliver widening, sealing and floodway upgrades to sections of Alpha–Tambo Road, Fitzroy Developmental Road between Bauhinia and Duaringa, and on May Downs Road.”
