The Hon Michael McCormack MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Leader of The Nationals
Federal Member for Riverina
The Hon Keith Pitt MP
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia
Federal Member for Hinkler
The Hon Michelle Landry MP
Assistant Minister for Children and Families
Assistant Minister for Northern Australia
Federal Member for Capricornia
The Hon Mark Bailey MP
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads
State Member for Miller
Brittany Lauga
State Member for Keppel
Barry O’Rourke
State Member for Rockhampton
A multi-million-dollar road upgrade to power Rockhampton’s livestock industry through the impacts of COVID-19 is now operational.
Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the project was funded under the $100 million Northern Australia Beef Roads Program that is targeted towards priority roads for transporting cattle.
“With regional Australia continuing to play an important role in our economic recovery from the pandemic, this project is helping to improve the reliability, productivity and resilience of cattle supply chains in northern Australia and in turn our agriculture sector,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the upgrade provided a shot in the arm for local industry during construction, supporting 91 jobs, and would ultimately increase the ability for Queensland’s $5 billion cattle industry to get its product to market.
“Beef and freight are what drive Rockhampton. It’s why we are rolling out a record $1.7 billion in upgrades for road and transport across Central Queensland – to support industry and create jobs as part of Queensland’s economic recovery plan from COVID-19,” Mr Bailey said.
Federal Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia and Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said Stage 2 of the Australian and Queensland governments’ $30 million Type 1 Road Train Access upgrade along Rockhampton-Emu Park Road wrapped up this week.
“Key benefits include improving the primary road access to the beef capital’s local abattoirs, as well as providing a high level of benefits to the northern Queensland beef industry,” Mr Pitt said.
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said approximately 29 kilometres of the cattle haulage route will be upgraded to provide access for Type 1 Road Trains, with the upgrades spanning the Capricorn Highway, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road and the Rockhampton-Emu Park Road.
“This is a great project for our beef industry that includes a new bridge, wide centre lines and intersection upgrades, but also a new bike path for the local community,” Ms Landry said.
State Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said beefed up access on Rockhampton-Emu Park Road will be the first of many major road projects expected to be complete in 2021, including the $75 million Capricorn Highway duplication and $157 million Bruce Highway upgrade in the city’s north.
“Rocky has stepped up when it comes to managing COVID-19, it means we’ve been able to get on with the job of creating jobs and rolling out a $50 billion infrastructure guarantee,” Ms Lauga said.
“That includes getting ready for a pipeline of future works along Rockhampton-Emu Park Road with $19 million locked in by the state government for overtaking lanes and improved safety on the key freight access.”
State Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the unprecedented level of investment in roads across Central Queensland will drive vital freight efficiency for the region’s transport industry and would continue with plans for the $1 billion Rockhampton Ring Road.
“Building better roads doesn’t just benefit the community once they’re complete, they’re also supporting the construction industry, jobs and our $5 billion economy at a time when we need jobs the most,” Mr O’Rourke said.
The project is jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $20 million and the Queensland Government committing $10 million.
