The Queensland Government has released its Queensland Infrastructure Plan (QIP) for public comment, providing a blueprint for the state’s infrastructure development over the next 20 years.

 

The Queensland Infrastructure Plan released is the foundation document to the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy and includes major documents including a significant masterplan for the Bruce Highway.

 

It provides an outline of short-term infrastructure projects as well as forward planning for longer-term infrastructure priorities to meet the future needs the state’s growing regions into the future.

 

It provides an outline of short-term infrastructure projects, as well  the longer-term infrastructure priorities to meet the needs of growing regions. The QIP also focuses on the rebuilding tasks resulting from the recent natural disasters that have affected Queensland.

 

The QIP replaces other regional infrastructure plans and programs including the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program and the Far North Queensland Infrastructure Plan.

 

It allocates infrastructure priorities for seven regions – Far North Queensland; North Queensland; Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday; Central Queensland; Wide Bay Burnett; Darling Downs South West; and South East Queensland.

 

Key projects prioritised in the QIP include:


Far North Queensland – Cairns Transit Network; Cairns Foreshore; Bruce Highway upgrades; Cairns Base Hospital redevelopment; Cairns Cityport.

North Queensland – Douglas Arterial Duplication; Townsville Hospital expansion; Bruce Highway upgrades; trade training centres in schools; raising of Burdekin Falls Dam.

Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday – Bruce Highway upgrades; Mackay TAFE Trade Training Centre; Whitsunday Coast Airport; Connors River Dam; Mackay Base Hospital; Port of Abbot Point.

Central Queensland – Rockhampton Hospital expansion; Dawson, Leichhardt, Bruce, Capricorn and Landsborough highway upgrades; RG Tanna and Wiggins Island coal terminals at the Port of Gladstone.

Wide Bay Burnett – Bundaberg Hospital expansion; Blackbutt Range Crossing road improvements; Bruce Highway upgrades; Principal Cycle Network Plan; trade training centres in schools.

Darling Downs and South West – Kogan Creek Solar Boost; Warrego Highway upgrades; Toowoomba Bypass; Surat Basin Rail; Kenya to Chinchilla Pipeline; upgrade to emergency departments at Toowoomba and Roma hospitals.

South East – Gold Coast Rapid Transit; Cross River Rail; Queensland Children’s Hospital; Airport Link; Legacy Way; Sunshine Coast University Hospital; Gold Coast University Hospital; Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct; Ipswich Motorway upgrade.

 

The plan will be finalised later this year after a series of regional consultation forums and input from the private sector plus other levels of government. Community consultation will run until September 9.  More information is here.