A $400 million upgrade which involves sealing 457km of the Queensland Beef Corridor roads has been pushed back from a planned start date of 2025/26 until 2027/28, last week’s Senate Estimates hearings were told.

Drawing attention to the issue in a media release today, Federal Member for the Central Queensland seat of Flynn, Colin Boyce, said LNP members from the region and local mayors believe the delay is unreasonable, given regional councils have already identified the roads that need attention.

He said the Federal Goverment, at a time when it is introducing a biosecurity levy that “would force Australian farmers to pay for the biosecurity costs of international importers and push supermarket prices higher”, has “betrayed Central Queensland” by delaying the Beef Corridor upgrade.

“An upgrade that will not only improve road safety for all road users but form a strategic web of agricultural supply chains from east to west,” he said.

Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry described the the Beef Corridor Road funding delays as “Rockhampton Ring Road 2.0”.

“We had to fight tooth and nail to get the Rockhampton Ring Road back on track and once again we will have to go in to bat for Central Queenslanders to get their fair share of the wealth that they create in our region,” Ms Landry said.

“Within this road network, more than 2300 beef businesses are putting $2.7 billion back into our coffers to improve the essential infrastructure and services those in the cities enjoy.

“Now is the time to put money back into the regions where it is created to ensure our rural families and truckies get home safely.”

Senator Matthew Canavan said the work at identifying what needs to be done on these roads has already been done by the councils, but had been delayed by the Federal Government for “no reason”.

“They made us fight for the Rockhampton Ring Road, and it seems like they’re just getting revenge by delaying roads that are a serious risk to the communities that use them,” Senator Canavan said.

“We’re not seeing the same delays in the major cities, so why is it that when Central Queensland is producing the wealth of the nation, we’re the ones first on the government’s chopping block?”

Roads that were assigned to be sealed include Clermont – Alpha Rd, May Downs Road, Kilcummin – Diamond Downs Road, Alpha – Tambo Rd, Dawson Developmental Rd, Fitzroy Developmental Rd (Bauhinia – Duaringa), Fitzroy Developmental Rd (Taroom – Bauhinia), Duaringa – Apis Creek Rd, Glenroy Road Corridor (incl. Crossing).

Source: LNP. For more information on the Queensland Beef Corridors and the campaign by regional mayors to improve them click here to visit the Qld Beef Corridors website.