Infrastructure

This article was written by Michael Evans

Infrastructure spending continues to be a major focus for the Government in the recovery from COVID-19, with an additional $15.2 billion over the next four years in new commitments to infrastructure projects in the Budget.

Key infrastructure spending

The Government is increasing total spending on its infrastructure pipeline to $110b over the next 10 years and significantly bringing forward infrastructure spending as part of its recovery plan from the COVID-19 pandemic. The infrastructure package will provide significant near-term investments in major road and rail projects, road safety and community infrastructure.

The key allocations for infrastructure are:

an additional $1b for the Road Safety Program, supporting approximately 700 projects that will continue installing lifesaving road safety upgrades to prevent fatal and serious crashes across all States and Territories;
an additional $1b for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to support local councils;
$258m for the construction of new and augmented water infrastructure projects, such as the Eurobodalla Southern Storage (New South Wales) and the Werribee Irrigation District Modernisation (Victoria);
$250 million for a sixth round of the Building Better Regions Fund, supporting infrastructure projects outside of the capital cities;
$79.6m over four years to support the delivery of essential services and infrastructure to the Indian Ocean Territories, Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island;
$55.5 million over three years to deliver new projects that support local communities across Australia as part of the Community Development Grants Programme;
$3.3b for New South Wales, including $2b for the Great Western Highway Upgrade and $500m for the Princes Highway Corridor;
$3b for Victoria, including $2b for the Melbourne Intermodal Terminal and $250m for the Monash Roads Upgrade;
$1.6b for Queensland, including $400m for Bruce Highway Additional Funding and a further $400m for the Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers) Upgrades;
$1.3b for Western Australia, including $200m for the Great Eastern Highway Upgrades and $237.5m for METRONET upgrades;
$3.2b for South Australia, including $2.6b for the North-South Corridor – Darlington to Anzac Highway;
$322.6m for Tasmania, including $80m for the Bass Highway Safety and Freight Efficiency Upgrades Package;
$323.9m for the Northern Territory, including $173.6m for Northern Territory Gas Industry Roads Upgrades; and
$167.3m for the Australian Capital Territory, including $132.5m for Stage 2A of the Canberra Light Rail.

Australian Capital Territory

The Government will provide $167.3m for priority road and rail projects in the Australian Capital Territory, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to over $1.2b. This funding includes:

$132.5m for Canberra Light Rail — Stage 2A;
$26.5m for the William Hovell Drive Duplication;
$5m for the Gundaroo Drive Duplication (formerly William Slim Drive Duplication); and
$2.5m for Beltana Road Improvements.

New South Wales

The Government will provide $3.3b for priority road projects in New South Wales, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to $43.5b. This funding includes:

$2b for the Great Western Highway Upgrade — Katoomba to Lithgow — Construction of East and West Sections;
$500m for the Princes Highway Corridor, including the Jervis Bay Road Intersection and Jervis Bay to Sussex Inlet Stage 1;
$240m for the Mount Ousley Interchange;
$229.4m for the M12 Motorway;
$87.5m for the M5 Motorway — Moorebank Avenue and Hume Highway Intersection Upgrade;
$52.8m for the Manns Road — Intersection Upgrades at Narara Creek Road and Stockyard Place;
$48m for the Pacific Highway — Harrington Road Intersection Upgrade, Coopernook;
$32m for the Toowoomba to Seymour — Upgrades to Hargraves Lane and Federation Street;
$25m for Stacey St, Bankstown — Planning;
$19m for the Far North Collector Road Network, Nowra; and
$18m for Appin Road.

Northern Territory

The Government will provide $323.9m for priority road and rail projects in the Northern, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to $3.2b. This funding includes:

$173.6m for the Northern Territory Gas Industry Roads Upgrades; and
$150m for the Northern Territory National Network Highway Upgrades (Phase 2).

Queensland

The Government will provide $1.6b for priority regional and urban road and rail infrastructure projects in Queensland, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to over $31b. This funding includes:

$400m for Bruce Highway Additional Funding;
$400m for the Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers) Upgrades;
$240m for the Cairns Western Arterial Road Duplication;
$178.1m for the Gold Coast Rail Line Capacity Improvement (Kuraby to Beenleigh) — Preconstruction;
$160m for the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade (packages 1 and 2);
$126.6m for Gold Coast Light Rail — Stage 3;
$35.3m for the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road and Pialba-Burrum Heads Road Intersection Upgrade;
$10m for the Caboolture — Bribie Island Road (Hickey Road — King John Creek) upgrade;
$5m for the Beerburrum to Nambour Duplication Study; and
$4m for the Warrego Highway — Mt Crosby Road Interchange.

South Australia

The Government will provide $3.2b for priority road and rail projects in South Australia, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to $10.7b. This funding includes:

$2.6b for the North-South Corridor — Darlington to Anzac Highway;
$161.6m for the Truro Bypass;
$148m for the Augusta Highway Duplication — Stage 2;
$64m for the Strzelecki Track Update — Sealing;
$60m for the Gawler Rail Line Electrification;
$48m for the Heysen Tunnel Refit and Upgrade — Stage 2;
$32m for the Kangaroo Island Road Safety and Bushfire Resilience Package;
$27.6m for the Overpass at Port Wakefield and Township Duplication;
$22.5m for the Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive Intersection Upgrade;
$12m for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands — Main Access Road Upgrade — Stuart Highway to Pukatja;
$5m for the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass Planning Study;
$3.1m for the Goodwood and Torrens Rail Junctions Project;
$3m for the North East Road and Nottage Terrace Intersection Upgrade;
$2.5m for the Murray Bridge to South East Links Planning Study; and
$1m for the Eyre Highway Widening and Upgrade Planning Study.

The Government will also provide $40m over two years to continue supplementary local roads funding in South Australia.

Tasmania

The Government will provide $322.6m for priority road projects in Tasmania, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to over $3.6b. This funding includes:

$113.4m for the Midland Highway Upgrades, including Campbell Town North (Campbell Town to Epping Forest), Oatlands (Jericho to South of York Plains), Ross (Mona Vale Road to Campbell Town), and preconstruction works;
$80m for the Tasmanian Roads Package—Bass Highway Safety and Freight Efficiency Upgrades Package—Future Priorities;
$48m for the Algona Road Grade Separated Interchange and Duplication of the Kingston Bypass;
$44m for the Rokeby Road — South Arm Road Upgrades;
$24m for the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation — Tranche 3 — Port of Burnie Shiploader Upgrade; and
$13.2m for Huon Link Road.

Victoria

The Government will provide $3b for priority road and rail projects in Victoria, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to $35.5b. This funding includes:

up to $2b for the Melbourne Intermodal Terminal;
$380m for the Pakenham Roads Upgrade;
$250m for the Monash Roads Upgrade;
$92.8m for the Commuter Car Park Upgrades including Berwick Railway Station, Frankston Railway Station, and Ringwood Railway Station;
$56.8m for the Hall Road Upgrade;
$51.1m for the Princes Highway East, between Rosedale and the New South Wales border;
$30.4m for the Western Port Highway Upgrade;
$20.7m for the Princes Highway West between Colac and the South Australian border;
$17.5m for the Dairy Supply Chain Road Upgrades;
$15m for Melbourne to Mildura — Future Priorities;
$10m for the Outer Metropolitan Ring/E6 Corridor Detailed Business Case; and
$10m for the Mallacoota-Genoa Road Upgrade.

Western Australia

The Government will provide $1.3b for priority road and rail projects in Western Australia, increasing the Government's total commitment to transport infrastructure to $17.3b. This funding includes:

$237.5m for the METRONET: Hamilton Street/Wharf Street Grade Separations and Elevation of Associated Stations;
$200m for the Great Eastern Highway Upgrades — Coates Gully, Walgoolan to Southern Cross and Ghooli to Benari;
$160m for the WA Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements — Package 1;
$112.5m for the Reid Highway — Altone Road and Daviot Road/Drumpellier Drive — Grade Separated Intersections;
$110m for the METRONET: Byford Extension;
$85m for the Perth Airport Precinct — Northern Access;
$64m for the Toodyay Road Upgrade — Dryandra to Toodyay;
$55m for the Mandurah Estuary Bridge Duplication;
$48m for the Great Northern Highway — Broome to Kununurra (Nellie Springs to Sally Downs Way and Arthur Creek);
$48m for the Marble Bar Road Upgrade;
$44m for the Indian Ocean Drive — Jurien Bay to Brand Highway;
$31.5m for METRONET: High Capacity Signalling; and
$21.5m for the Leach Highway (Welshpool Road Interchange).