A safer road link to the northern Bowen Basin from the Whitsunday coast, also allowing for greater capacity, will be constructed after a $10 million commitment from the Queensland government.
The project is part of the $495 million Royalties for the Regions program which deputy premier and minister for state development, infrastructure and planning Jeff Seeney said is about “reinvesting a share of royalties in resource regions” to build new and improved community, road and floodplain security infrastructure.
Mr Seeney said that new mines proposed for the northern and central Bowen Basin, as well as transport infrastructure construction projects in support of the Galilee Basin will create significant traffic flows between Collinsville and Bowen.
“As demand increases and community infrastructure for these townships grow, the need for improved road infrastructure becomes of paramount importance,” he said.
“The project will widen and rehabilitate a 7.1 kilometre stretch of road from Euri Creek to Bogie River.”
This project could also provide opportunities for apprentices in Mackay, with member for Burdekin Rosemary Menkens saying that the commitment of $10 million of mining royalties would significantly benefit the growing region.
“Royalties for the Regions is all about returning these mining profits back to the bush and creating more jobs and better infrastructure within our regional community heartland.”
