The State Budget has committed $21.7 billion of investment over the next four years into transport projects through the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP).
The State Government said this marked three consecutive years of delivering record investment in road and transport infrastructure, with the funding total higher than the previous QTRIP by more than $700 million.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the investment included a commitment of almost $900 million to upgrades and planning between Varsity Lakes and Tugun, and Eight Miles Plains and Daisy Hill, on the M1.
“It also shows our ongoing commitment to upgrading the Bruce Highway, with a range of projects planned or underway all the way from south-east to far-north Queensland,” he said.
“Importantly we are also ensuring that work on the vitally important Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade can get under way, with a $160.8 million commitment.
“And in response to the significant impact caused by recent weather events like Cyclone Debbie, $76.8 million has been allocated in 2018-19 to continue with vital restoration works.”
The State Budget will also lock in an extra $200 million for the Works for Queensland program, which is generating jobs in regional Queensland hrough local government projects.
The government also announced an allocation of $1.1 billion in the 2018-19 State Budget for the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training to support a strong training system and promote small business and jobs growth.
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman said the Budget allocated more than $770 million in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Investment Plan in 2018-19, including a $20 million boost to the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) initiative.
“We are honouring our election commitment to boost its budget to $80 million in 2018-19, while extending the initiative for two years into 2020-21 with a further $160 million,@ she said.
“The $420 million initiative will now extend for six years and help up to 54,000 disadvantaged Queenslanders, with more than 15,300 having secured jobs as a direct result of SQW already.”
“This program is doing a fantastic job of helping a range of people, including mature-age Queenslanders up-skill and reskill to become job ready.
She said the Back to Work Regional Program would be receiving an extra $155 million, with applications open to 30 June 2020.
“We will continue to support TAFE Queensland, as the premier public provider of VET in Queensland, with a commitment of up to $85 million for three years in the Advancing our Training Infrastructure election commitment, which will include upgrades at Pimlico, Toowoomba, Cairns, and Mt Gravatt, and within the regions of the Gold Coast and Redlands,@ Ms Fentiman said.
