Infrastructure gets $8.5b boost
The federal government has allocated almost $8.5 billion for major infrastructure projects.
The Building Australia Fund – worth $20b last year but $12.7b now – will pay for a $3.2b dual track train line between Werribee South and the CBD, in Melbourne’s west.
However the Frankston Bypass in that city, didn’t get funding. It is increasingly being speculated that freeway will be tolled.
The Hunter Expressway in north Sydney, will advance.
Additions to the Ipswich Motorway, at Brisbane, have also been approved.
The trust will pay investments in clean energy, education and healthcare initiatives.
Infrastructure projects just allocated for are:
Regional Rail Express (Victoria) $3.225 billion
Hunter Expressway (New South Wales) $1.451 billion
Ipswich Motorway, additional works (Queensland) $884 million
Pacific Highway, Kempsey bypass (New South Wales) $618 million
Bruce Highway, Cooroy to Curra duplication (Queensland) $618 million
Gold Coast light rail (Queensland) $365 million
Oakajee Port common user facilities (Western Australia) $339 million
Gawler rail line modernisation (South Australia) $294 million
Noarlunga to Seafod rail extension (South Australia) $291 million
Northbridge rail link (Western Australia) $236 million
West Metro, preconstruction work (New South Wales) $91 million
O-Bahn track extension (South Australia) $61 million
Darwin Port expansion (Northern Territory) $50 million
East-West rail tunnel, preconstruction work (Victoria) $40 million
Brisbane inner-city rail feasibility study (Queensland) $20 million
