Queensland transport upgrades boost to local economy
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 27, 2016
As the nation’s second-largest and third-most-populous state, Queensland relies heavily on its highway and rail network to provide reliable transportation options for both its resident and commercial industries.
With significant developments taking place across the state, such as the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games™ and the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Integrated Resort, the Queensland government is prioritising the expansion of its transport network to further promote the increase of accessibility to the state’s latest events and infrastructure.
Exploring an astringent array of alternative technologies and transport systems to compliment the state’s reliance on roads and motorways, the Queensland government will be embarking on stage two of the Gold Coast Light Rail.
Announced in 2015, stage two of the light rail network will envision a 7.3 kilometre extension of the rail line, which is expected to provide long-term transportation options during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games™, including the expected construction of three new stations at Helensvale, Parkwood and Parkwood East.
The upgrade to the light rail network is also expected to include the construction of a 1000 car space facility at Parkwood station and a 400 space expansion of the existing park at Helensvale station, to accommodate for the increased inflow of spectators during the coming games.
Work is also being laid out to improve freight rail transport between Australia’s states, with the development of a new inland rail connection between Melbourne and Brisbane, dubbed the Inland Rail Project.
The Inland Rail Project will provide a high performance, direct interstate freight rail corridor between two of Australia’s largest cities, as well as links into Adelaide and New South Wales. The approximate 1,700 kilometre route is expected to deliver a freight transit time of less than 24 hours between Melbourne and Brisbane.
The project is expected to offer a “strategic opportunity to invest in a nationally significant asset that is likely to serve Australia for the next 150 years,” according to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Warren Truss MP.
International trade is also gaining focus, with Queensland set to become a prime producer of LNG over the coming years, competing with existing LNG production from Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
These developments have prompted the upgrade of Townsville Port with the approximate $1.49 billion Townsville Port Expansion Project, which aims to address bottlenecks and address current capacity constraints.
Townsville’s rail network is also receiving a well-needed upgrade, with plans to connect the North Coast rail line directly into the Port of Townsville. It will increase capacity for the growing tonnage demand on the Mt Isa rail system, a critical link between the mines in the North West Queensland and the Port.
To facilitate in the discussion of these significant projects, private and public sector representatives from a wide range of infrastructure and construction sectors will be gathering at the 7th Annual Queensland Transport Infrastructure Conference 2016 to review upcoming transport infrastructure projects within the region.
Other major developments currently taking place within Queensland include the Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway Upgrade Project, Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project, Warrego Highway Upgrade Program, as well as a variety of significant projects ranging from public to private sectors.
The conference is an opportunity for industry leaders and government officials to share common ideas on transport challenges and to acquire the latest information on major transport infrastructure projects taking shape in Queensland.
The 7th Annual Queensland Transport Infrastructure Conference 2016 is being held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on the 10th & 11th of May.
