The Queensland Government's key independent infrastructure adviser, Building Queensland, has today published its 2019 Infrastructure Pipeline Report.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick, said the 2019 Infrastructure Pipeline Report demonstrates the significant progress made in addressing the state's infrastructure needs and creating more jobs for Queenslanders.
"Delivering the infrastructure our community needs is as much about good planning as it is about good delivery," he said.
"Over 70 per cent of proposals received or initiated by Building Queensland have progressed to further stages of development since the previous pipeline report, and six have received funding.
"In 2018-19, Building Queensland has provided business cases to Government to support essential infrastructure projects such as the expansion of Logan Hospital, Stage 3A of Gold Coast Light Rail project, a revitalised convention centre in Cairns, and the Inner-City South State Secondary College.
"Through Building Queensland's Pipeline Report, our private sector infrastructure partners have a clear understanding not only of what the government has committed to but what's in the pipeline.
"Making this information available transparently helps the infrastructure community do their own business planning and resource allocation.
"The Infrastructure Pipeline is a key component of our infrastructure policy reforms, reforms which are delivering results.
"When we came to government in 2015, we inherited a capital program that was underperforming by about fifteen percent per annum.
"That cost our state between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs each year.
"Since then, the Palaszczuk government has focused keenly on reducing that underspend so that Queenslanders know the infrastructure promised is being delivered.
"This careful management will see us achieving a near-zero per cent underspend for 2018-19, the best performance in 10 years.
"The Palaszczuk Government is resolutely focussed on creating and supporting jobs for Queenslanders.
"The next four years will see a $49.5 billion infrastructure investment across Queensland, including $12.9 billion over the next 12 months, which will support up to 40,500 local jobs.
"We are delivering more infrastructure than the LNP ever did.
"60 per cent of this year's infrastructure budget is being invested outside Greater Brisbane, where it will support around 25,500 jobs.
"However, we're still waiting on Morrison Government environmental approval for the Lake Macdonald Dam Safety upgrade which was due from the Federal Government on 1 July.
"Our strong infrastructure program underpins and unlocks private sector investment, making our state's $147 billion combined public / private infrastructure pipeline the second largest in Australia, according to Deloitte Access Economics.
"A strong, sustainable infrastructure pipeline provides confidence and certainty for investors, employers, businesses and communities.
"Projects in the pipeline respond to challenges associated with Queensland's growing and ageing population, like planning for revitalised Toowoomba and Bundaberg hospitals and improvements to the M1.
"We know that quality infrastructure creates better communities and I thank Building Queensland for their work in delivering detailed business cases to help grow Queensland.
Building Queensland Chief Executive Officer Damian Gould said the statutory body has been working closely with Queensland Government agencies to unpack the service needs across the state and identify opportunities for economic growth.
"Our role in leading the development of the state's major business cases has helped us to identify four new proposals for inclusion in the pipeline," he said.
"A balance of economic and social infrastructure has emerged—both of which are necessary for developing the economy and enhancing the quality of life for all Queenslanders.
"Planning is underway for new schools to increase capacity in master planned communities and other high growth areas.
"New sections of the M1 Pacific Motorway spanning from Daisy Hill to Nerang have also been identified to address capacity constraints on this transport corridor.
The Infrastructure Pipeline details infrastructure proposals over $50 million in value in the planning phase or under consideration by the Palaszczuk Government.
View Building Queensland's Infrastructure Pipeline Report: https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/pipeline/
