The Queensland Government has announced the details of the 2021-2022 budget, with significant investments in road and transportation infrastructure and figures, water and energy-various components of the country's economic recovery. Queensland’s Minister of Transport and Major Roads, Mark Bailey, said that the state’s infrastructure will be driven by the certainty of budget investment. The 2021-22 budget includes a four-year road and transportation investment plan of US$27.5 billion.

“Since the beginning of 2020, we have injected an additional A$1.3 billion into the economy to accelerate the construction of nearly 200 roads and transportation projects and support employment when needed,” Mr Bailey said. "We have developed a four-year investment outlook to forecast future infrastructure needs and support workers and businesses in Queensland."

Road infrastructure

Mr. Bailey said that the Queensland Government continues to prioritize road safety funding in its budget, especially as nearly 120 people have been killed on roads across the state in 2021. Mr. Bailey said: “The budget will invest $1.6 billion to prioritize safety upgrades, such as better rest facilities, new road barriers, additional street lighting and overtaking lanes, audio markings and high-risk roads across the state. Broad centerline processing.” Mr. Bailey also discussed the upgrade of the Bruce Highway, which will benefit from additional joint funding of US$883 million to support the targeted upgrade between Gladstone and Rockhampton north of Townsville and the construction in Tiaro Four lanes.

"The new funds have locked up a joint fund of $13 billion to continue to upgrade the priority sections of the 1,700-kilometer expressway over the next ten years," Mr. Bailey said. Infrastructure investment also includes prioritizing the transportation of goods across the state. Road and port connections are the focus of improvement, such as the US$25 million commitment to the US$125 million Gladstone Port Passage Project, which aims to improve access to the port. Channels and keep trucks away from local roads. "We also support the upgrade of major regional highways. In this budget, $47.5 million is used to support a $237.5 million joint funding program to upgrade parts of the Landsborough and Capricorn highways and surrounding roads as Mount Isa. Part of the upgrade to the Rockhampton Corridor," Mr. Bailey said. "The inland freight route will keep trucks away from the Bruce Highway, create regional jobs and increase freight productivity for truck drivers, farmers and miners."

Railway infrastructure

The budget also locks in funds for the construction of the light rail to Burleigh starting at the end of 2021, as well as three new North Gold Coast railway stations as part of Cross River Rail. These railway projects are designed to provide better services and support new jobs and training opportunities.

Mr. Bailey said: “The construction of the cross-river railway is continuing. In addition to our record of A$27.5 billion in transportation and road budgets, there are 5.4 billion Australian dollars of projects being delivered.” “The cross-river railway is expected to open in 2025. , We will continue to roll out a smart ticketing system worth US$371 million, and advance the much-needed upgrade from Kurabi to Bennett rail to support faster rail services between the Gold Coast, Logan and the Central Business District."

Energy infrastructure

The budget also promises to invest US$2 billion in renewable energy projects and network upgrades to provide reliable and affordable electricity. Minister of Energy, Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Energy Mick de Brenni stated that the investment in the state's public energy assets will further strengthen Queensland's status as a renewable energy powerhouse. Mr. Debrenni said: "Investing in our poles, wires and generators in a way that prepares our future will bring jobs during construction and contribute to the growth of our manufacturing and resource sectors. Pave the way. In order to support the continued use of renewable energy, the budget fulfilled a number of large-scale energy storage commitments, such as our $22 million design and cost analysis for the Bolumba Dam pumped storage power station."

Mr. de Brenni said that he will invest US$222 million in public clean energy operator CleanCo to help promote renewable energy growth in the state.

Digital infrastructure

The 2021-2022 budget also focuses on digital infrastructure, investing in drought support, community transportation, mobile blackspots, and cybersecurity. The Minister of Community and Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said the budget is ensuring that Queenslanders can continue to receive the services and support they need. “As the Queensland community recovers from the pandemic, the Palaszczuk government is ensuring services and support for individuals and families,” Ms Enok said. This includes $5.2 million for the 2021-2022 community drought support plan, which is part of the Palaszczuk government's annual drought support plan.

The pandemic highlights the continuing need to maintain digital connectivity and the growing need to strengthen the digital economy, which is why the Palaszczuk government allocates funds for digital services in the national budget.

Water conservancy infrastructure

The budget also focuses on water infrastructure through the "Building Our Region" program. The District Council was able to bid for US$70 million in funding within three years to improve the water supply and sewage system through the Queensland Government’s sixth round of the highly successful "Build Our District" program.

The Minister of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Glenn Butcher, said the funds will complement the Queensland Government’s long-term commitment to regional water security. “The A$70 million we promised will be allocated over the next three years for the City Council to use to improve the water supply and sewage system,” Mr Butcher said. Since 2015, the Queensland Government has pledged to invest nearly A$1.9 billion in large-scale water supply infrastructure such as Rookwood Weir, Haughton Pipeline and Mareeba-Dimbulah improvement projects. But water safety also occurs on a small scale, in our town’s water treatment plants, reservoirs, and water supply and sewage treatment systems.

Keywords: energy infrastructure, road infrastructure

In the first five rounds of the plan, more than US$348 million has been approved for 271 projects, conducted in 67 councils.Editor/Baohongying、design/wangxia