Cairns road and CQ water needs make priority list

Cairns Western Arterial Road capacity and Bowen Basin water supply for agricultural, industrial and mining productivity have made it on to Infrastructure Australia's latest priority list. Infrastructure Australia today announced it had added a record number of new investment opportunities to its Infrastructure Priority List, saying the major update reflected the changing needs of the nation's cities, regions and remote communities. “The 2021 Infrastructure Priority List is a comprehensive overview of nationally-significant infrastructure needs, providing an investment roadmap to guide Australia’s economic recovery and improve quality of life as we continue to absorb and respond to the shocks of COVID-19,” Infrastructure Australia chief executive Romilly Madew said. “We have added a record 44 new proposals to the Priority List for consideration by Australia’s governments across the broad spectrum of transport, energy, water, waste, telecommunications and social infrastructure." $59b infrastructure project pipeline The 2021 edition identifies a $59 billion project pipeline, with six High Priority Projects, 17 Priority Projects, 48 High Priority Initiatives and 109 Priority Initiatives. New Queensland entries include addressing South East Queensland level crossings congestion and safety (High Priority Initiatives), Bowen Basin productive water supply, Cairns Western Arterial Road capacity and Ipswich to Springfield Transport capacity (all classed as Priority Initiatives). Urannah project Developer Bowen River Utilities is cited as the proponent for the Bowen Basin water project. "A constrained water supply is limiting the growth of agricultural, industrial and mining productivity in and adjacent to the Bowen Basin," the report says. "Increasing the water supply can unlock additional agricultural land andfacilitate a more robust water trading market with potential flow-on price reductions for mining and industrial water users. "There is also an integrated opportunity to explore pumped hydro storage within the local Renewable Energy Zones and increase resilience for the Whitsunday region’s urban water supply." The entry for the Cairns Western Arterial Road highlights the heavy congestion on the key strategic corridor. And it notes that these issues are expected to worsen over time with Cairn’s growing population and employment. Infrastructure Australia is a national infrastructure advisory body, with a key role in assessing business cases for major projects seeking Australian Government funding. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the 2021 Priority List seamlessly coupled with Australia’s infrastructure-led economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Priority List helps inform future Australian Government investments as we continue to deliver on our 10-year, $110 billion infrastructure plan which is laying the foundations for economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. View the full Infrastructure Priority List HERE.

Cairns road and CQ water needs make priority list

Industry Queensland

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