Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 1:16:56 to 1:45:00
Officials provide updates on completed pavement strengthening projects along the Bruce Highway and the allocation of the $200 million early works package.
Topics: Infrastructure, Public safety, Government spending
Speakers: Bill Brummitt, Matthew Canavan, Jessica Hall, Unknown Speaker, Jim Betts, Andrew Bourne, Hon Anthony Chisholm, Hon Matthew Canavan, Senator Matthew Canavan
>> Thanks, Senator Canavan. Okay. We'll thank the officers from corporate and we'll now call officers from for outcome one. >> Okay, I think we have the cast and crew here. Senator Canavan.
>> Yep. Okay, thank you. I want to start with the Bruce Highway. Um, At the last estimates uh we were told the six projects completed um from the this is the uh 9 billion or 7.5 odd billion dollars from the comwalth project. Um uh I just want to check were those six projects from the early works program or from the additional works for pre-construction design works program. Bit of a mouthful.
>> Thank you Senator. We'll just wait for the relevant um we did come up but I think we've got a update. I think there's now eight projects completed, but I'll just wait for Mr. Bomit.
>> Did you get my question, Mr. Baum?
>> Uh, no, I didn't say.
>> Okay, let's start again. Uh at the last estimates, I think we were told that uh six projects have been completed from the $9 billion Bruce Highway package. Were they from the early works program or from the additional works for pre-construction design works program? and
projects that have been completed package. >> Okay. uh is uh uh bowing to air wide million completed uh air to Townsville pavement strengthening at the Alligator Creek service station. Uh $1.5 million completed. Townsville to Ingam uh pavement strengthening at the Tumula intersection. Uh 1.5 million completed. Uh Townsville to Ingam pavement strengthening at Henam Creek completed. Uh Ingam to Townsville. How much that
last one?
>> Uh pavement strengthening at Henamp Creek.
>> Yeah. How much was that? Oh, you were still describing it.
>> Uh $2 million.
>> Okay. Sorry. Okay.
>> Completed in uh June 2025. Uh and uh at uh Ingam to Inisvale pavement strengthening at various sections between Ingam and Inisvale. Ingram and Ingisvale. $3 million uh completed 14 November. Uh also between still in the early works uh inval to cans pavement strengthening at various sections between innis and cans uh completed 8th $4 million.
>> All right. And that's that's the six that we you referred to. And I think mic
uh from the additional paving pavement strengthening projects that were announced on the 28th of November uh 1 kilometer of pavement strengthening uh in various sections at spider creek between St. Lawrence and Mai that was completed on the 13th of October 2025 and uh between Bowen and Air uh half a kil 500 m of pavement strengthening south of Goodbye Creek uh complete uh $2 million completed uh in December.
>> So of those completed programs, how much >> for those eight total?
two 13 14.5 16 uh $23 million.
>> 23 million. And that that's been actually spent. You've passed that money on to the presumably to the Queensland government to pay for these projects.
>> Uh well that money has been the projects have been >> completed but whether or not the payments >> made spent um don't know yet the the exact milestone payments.
>> Okay. All right. We might maybe if you could take that on notice how much of has been actually spent on those. How much um are there other projects which money has been spent so far on if not
do you I'd have to take on notice in I'd have to take on notice in terms of are you talking about Australian government funds?
>> Yes, Australian government funding how much Australian government funding has been transferred spent however you want to describe it.
>> Okay.
>> Uh on on well I'm happy to take well I'd like to know how much early works and how much overall as well.
>> Just give me
>> let's start with the early works. would stay there for a $2 million package.
So it's driving the it. Uh so in total uh the uh I think we're actually ahead, Senator. Uh the the um uh last payment made um was $103 million
>> has been paid. That's in total when you say last payment but that's in total and that's just for the early works program. >> Um uh maybe on notice if you could give me what the other 70 million has been >> Taking well what what the 103 million has been spent on. But you presumably 23 of the 103 is the completed projects and there's another 70. Am I you following me there? 80. Sorry. Sorry. 80 >> 80 million. >> You got me there.
>> So total payments are total payments up until the 5th of December $123 million. >> 123. Sorry, I wrote down >> total payments are $123 million. I think your actual question was when was the
>> right? Okay. Yep. No. Okay. 123. So yeah, there's a gap of 100. If I notice, you could get me all the other projects that currently has been spent money has been spent on. Is the $200 million allocated? The $200 million allocated to particular projects?
>> Well, that's the early works program.
>> Yes. But has it all been allocated specific projects?
>> Yes.
>> Yes, it has. Okay. Okay. And are all of
as I said uh Andrew Bourne first assistant secretary um of the early works projects my understanding six have been completed 10 are still under construction and
>> we got eight didn't we have before so
>> well but of early works this is the early works package
>> two of those other ones are actually under the um The second >> the second trans.
>> Ah, right. Okay. Okay. Sorry.
>> 10 are under construction and five are still going through the design phase.
>> Right. Okay. So, not all are allocated yet, but but allocated but not yet started. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Okay. All right. Um um I suppose one thing that strikes me from this program, the early works program, things like pavement strengthening and is that normally funded by the federal government? I mean, I don't know. How does it work? So the you got the National Highway Network, the Bruce Highway. If there's a pothole on the highway, who pays for the pothole to be repaired? It happens quite regularly. But who pays for that?
>> So the routine maintenance of the networks is undertaken by state governments, but we're moving towards um a more programmatic approach where we're looking at whole corridors um and working with state governments to identify flexible packages of works and pavement strengthening is absolutely part of making sure that the infrastructure of the land transport network is fit for purpose. And yeah,
>> these are actually really important projects in the targeted safety package in terms of it's often pavement widening and strengthening.
>> Yeah, I heard that. But sometimes it says strengthening. What does that mean? What does pavement strengthening mean?
Well, essentially it's um I think quite literally it's um strengthening the pavement, giving it better underpinnings um deeper sort of I'm not engineer deeper foundations uh and in part I think to avoid some of the problems you get in terms of you know what
>> so you avoid potholes potentially you avoid potholes >> you improve resilience fewer potholes fundamentally doing this >> so you actually rip the road up and ch and and redo the foundation Is that what happens?
>> That can be part of it. Yeah. So, it's about resilience in the face of climatic conditions, which is obviously a significant issue in Queensland. Um, but it's also about um making sure that the road remains fit for purpose when it's used by heavy vehicles. Um, and therefore minimizing whole of life maintenance costs.
>> Right. Okay. Okay. It Yeah, it does just seem a little different than normally what we fund. That's all. Um Okay. Um uh the $100 million additional works for pre-construction design designs. Is that is any funding been allocated from that?
Uh so you specifically interested in where the funding is allocated rather than the individual packages. Just to be clear, Senator
design. >> So how much of that 100 million has been
um I can't answer the specific questions. I'd have to take on notice uh how much specifically has been allocated from the design package, Senator.
>> Okay. But not all of it has been allocated then. Can I take that?
>> Uh I I know there there's a lot of work going on with those design packages at present. I can't speak to exactly the allocation of funding. Uh I can certainly speak to work going on uh under those under those packages. For example, the Mary Bar to Gingin um uh package $25 million the seven designs comprising approximately 17.3 km of wide center lines and pavement strengthening and construction of heavy vehicle of a of a heavy vehicle rest area at at
>> Okay. All right.
>> So there's a lot of work going on under the design packages.
>> Right. Okay. Okay. and one design
contract has been awarded and is under pre-construction for for that package
>> Okay. All right. Um uh moving on then. Can we u get some figures on how much has been allocated to the uh to widening center line and line marking programs? Have you allocated money to that element of the
sure. Um, I mean, as a um,
>> what might be more useful, Senator, is if we actually read out what section and the scope of the project and the estimated cost so you can actually get a sense of what we've actually done. >> So, if we go through >> that will give you a better sense.
>> Okay, go for it.
>> Just go through this line. go through
>> Uh so under the early works package um the um gin to maribay north of car at new rest area on the eastern side of the car interchange uh for $20 million. That project is under construction. Uh s in same section Gimped to Mary Bar south of Gorpool. Uh shoulder and road widening and roadside safety improvements at Stratford Road. Uh $12.4 million that's under construction. Uh uh uh Gimpy Marabara again south of Borpal. Um safety improvements and insection upgrades at Chapman's Road in Mountain View Road. um $4.3 million under construction. Uh um north of Borpal um Gimpy Mar again safety improvements and new projected turn lane for southbound traffic at Brooks Road intersection 2.3 million under construction. Uh, Gingin to Ben Babi north of Colonga earthworks safety improvements and intersection upgrades at Barton Road intersection. $22 million uh under construction. Uh again, Gingin to Banabi north of Colonga pavement widening for future center lines, drainage and culvert upgrades at 3M Creek. uh $6 million uh under construction uh south of Miriam Vale, also Gingin to Banabi construction construct a new heavy vehicle rest area and upgrade facilities at the existing Granite Creek rest area under construction. Um Rockampton and St. Lawrence um north of Malbra uh there's pavement strengthening wide center lines and shoulder widening between Little Naram Creek and Deep Creek. $35 million uh under construction but uh between Bowen and Air the wide center lines at Baloo Road which I mentioned before $7 million completed. Um uh the pavement strengthening alligator creek service station completed which I mentioned before south of Townsville. uh the pavement strengthening at Tmula intersection and Henamp Creek um and between in Ingram and Inisvale. All of which I mentioned before. All of those projects completed um uh between at Tully between Ingam and Inisvale wide center lines between Dean Road and Tully High School. Uh $25 million um under construction um at least early works uh with main works expected uh after the early works are complete and weather depending on weather conditions obviously. um Ingam to Inisale, south of Inisfale, wide center lines, guard rails and upgraded property access between road and Poppy Road. Um under construction um obviously subject to weather at the moment. Uh Inisvale to Cans between Inisale and Canes pavement strengthening um between Inisale and Canes that was completed mentioned that before. Uh so they are all of the projects currently um uh under in the um they are the 16 projects under the uh early works package today.
>> We can also go through the $und00 million design package for you if you would like.
>> That's what I asked about earlier. Yeah. Okay. I did ask about that. Yeah.
>> Yep. Uh so the first uh mer first package there's five packages. um the Marbara to Gingin uh package uh there are seven designs comprising approximately 17.3 km of wide center lines and pavement strengthening and construction of a heavy ve he heavy vehicle rest area at Gingin for an estimated cost of $25 million. Um that uh contract award was in on the 4th of July uh with detailed designs expected by mid 2027. Um and there's currently one design contract awarded and under pre-construction. The second design package covering Rockampton to St. Lawrence. There are four designs comprising approximately 29 km of upgrades. Estimated cost of $20 million. Um the contract award for the detailed design was on the 30th of June. Uh detailed design should be complete by late 2027. uh and so far there are four design the four design contracts have been awarded uh between McKay and Prozipine uh three designs comprising approximately 13.6 6 km of upgrades including the intersection upgrade at Farley to Habana between Farley and Habana Road. Uh $15 million. Uh so that contract was awarded on the 10th of December uh with detailed designs due mid 2026. Uh and a preconstruction tender awarded uh between air the package D uh between air and Townsville. Uh there are six designs comprising approximately 12 kilometers of wide center lines and pavement strengthening upgrades. Uh an upgrade at Allenale Drive intersection and replacement of the bridge at Kilimy Moon Creek with an estimated cost of $20 million uh the first uh the detailed design contract award was the 13th of June. Uh and those designs are complete the detailed designs uh in mid 2026 uh with five design contracts awarded. uh and between EG and Vale uh the U final design package there are eight designs comprising approximately 25 kilometers of wide center lines and pavement strengthening and intersection upgrades at Alingham Street and Mala Street and Stit Street and Ida Street uh with an estimated cost of $20 million. Um that uh contract award was on the 23rd of June. Uh detailed design is due late 2028. uh with four design contracts awarded
>> and we can also go through the $500 million package that was announced in November that included the additional pavement strength and the wide center lines if you would like as well as another unknown. >> Yep. Go for it.
>> Sure. Um uh between Gimpy and Gimpy and Mary Bar um 4.9 km of pavement strengthening in various sections between Kura and Davy Road. uh $40 million procurement started in December 2025. Uh contract award is expected mid 2026. So obviously in procurement uh between Mary Bar and Gingin there's 6.1 km of pavement strengthening between Howard Turnoff and south of Doghaul Creek. Uh estimated cost of $39.6 million. Procurement started mid 26. Uh sorry procurement is expected to start in mid 26. Uh so that one yet not yet in procurement. Uh Gingin to Benabi 6.6 km of pavement strengthening between Colon River and Skeleton Creek. Uh 30 million uh for $30 million. Uh procurements started in December 2025. Uh with construction set to start in mid 2026. Um uh sim also between Gingin and Benabi 1.4 4 km of pavement strengthening between Charwood Road and Granite Road and an $8 million project. Uh procurement started in December. Um uh between Benabi and Rockampton 1.3 km of pavement strengthening between 8 mile creek and bee a $4.5 million project um December u kicked off procurement kicked off in December. Uh between Rockampton and St. Lawrence. Uh there's a 5 km of pavement strengthening in various sections between Kwa Kwar Kwara uh and Hut Road. Uh a 20 $21.5 million project um u with procurement starting in December. Uh also between Rockampton and St. Lawrence, 5 km of pavement strengthening between Mount Milson Road and Tumba Creek. uh $22.5 million um uh with procurement starting in December between St. Lawrence and Mai uh one kilometer of pavement strengthening in various sections at Spider Creek. A $2 million uh project uh procurement uh sorry that one is finished in October um 2025 uh between St. Lawrence and Mai also 3.5 km of pavement strengthening at the northern and southern entries to Serena. Uh $36 million uh procurement started in uh December. Um uh also between St. Lawrence and Mai uh 2 km of pavement strengthening in various sections at the southern end southern entry to Mai. Uh $10 million procurement uh uh opened in November. um between Mai and Prozipine, 600 meters of pavement strengthening uh south of Glendara Road, 2.5 million uh in procurement um since November um between Mai and Prozipine, 2 km of pavement strengthening in various sections between Mar and Hampton Road and Hudson's Road. uh $10 million um procurement to commence in is set and for that one set to commence in the middle of 2026 uh between Prozipine and Bowen 8.5 km of pavement strengthening between Greta Creek and Emu Creek uh that's a $20 million project um with procurement set to commence in the middle mid 2026 uh between Bowen and Air 500 meters of pavement strengthening south of Goodbye Creek uh $2 million That project was completed in December 2025. Uh 3.8 kilometers of pavement strengthening in various sections between Bowen and Air. 11.5 million project. Uh procurement set to commence in mid 2026. Uh between air and Townsville, 8.5 km of pavement strengthening in various sections. A $16 million uh project uh procurement and construction. >> yeah. >> Yeah, that one. Yep. Uh,
>> okay.
>> Construction starting in November. So, that one's under construction. Uh, Townsfield to Ingam, 12.3 km of pavement strengthening in various sections. Uh, $16.5 million project. Um and that one is under construction. Um uh between Ingam and Inisvale, 16.2 km of pavement strengthening in various sections. Uh that's $73 million project. Uh in procurement uh expected to get um in procurement since November 2025 and looking to uh uh commence construction once the wet season finishes. uh and between Inisale and Canes, four kilometers of pavement strengthening in various sections um for $14 million with procurement starting in November uh 2025 uh and similarly looking to get going uh once the wet season u concludes.
>> To summarize, the federal labor government doing a lot of work on the Bruce Highway.
>> Yeah, it's actually doesn't sound that exciting I think for most people listening. Um so is any of those
So I think that's what the design packages will be working on.
>> Yeah, that would be more exciting. Overtaking lanes will be much more. But >> don't forget Senator just restoring our road to what it should be expecting. >> I mean, you know, this is the problem.
>> So Senator, don't forget >> this should be a basic job. Anyway, this Bruce Highway um uh package has been designed with industry and stakeholders under the Bruce Highway advisory group that's been led by the um Queensland transport minister that actually has representatives from so um it is a
>> but just to confirm no overtaking lanes have started yet
>> a year after taking lanes are under more
than a year after >> the announcement big announcement
>> and I I would I guess the the wide center the um the focus on wide center lines across the program as a whole um is is driven by a lot of it's a safety program and it's driven by a lot of safety data in relation to the prevalence of head-on crashes uh uh and um for the yeah
>> and we've already seen that that from a safety perspective has reduced um uh road safety issue significantly when we've um rolled it out in other jurisdictions where we've had significant ificant decreases in the road toll.
>> How much money has been spent so far across the whole $9 billion package? >> You gave me the 123. I'm just wondering is that just for early works? Is there anything above that?
>> That's our total payments under the package then.
>> Total payments. >> So, how much does that work out at 9 billion? >> What percentage has been spent so far? >> Like 1.3%.
>> We come back to you once we've done
>> it might go only 1% has been spent. >> Why is it going so slow?
>> It's a
>> I don't think it is going slow. We're going as we're paying in accordance with what the Queensland government is telling us to pay.
>> But it was your program. But this is it's on you said you're a bit above budget, weren't you? >> That was your budget, right? >> That you said even before an agreement with the Queensland government. So why why is it >> why is it just being drip fed out like trying to claim more credit for it before the minister was but >> you spent 1%.
>> We pay a milestone senator.
>> Okay. It's your budget just to be clear. You set the budget. um set the budget
set do so in >> mask in collaboration with Queensland um who are looking to sequence this project in a way that it can move as quickly as and focus on those priority areas.
>> I'm happy to transfer the call. Um
chair, thank you Senator Roberts.