2017–18 Activity Statement—Infrastructure

Effective and efficient infrastructure is vital to support communities across Queensland. As the state’s population continues to grow, there will be increasing pressure on critical infrastructure and a growing need for tailored, community based social infrastructure.

The Queensland Government is investing in infrastructure in regions across the State to create jobs and drive economic growth. The Queensland Government also recognises the value of community spaces and recreational facilities to support community wellbeing. In 2017–18, the Queensland Government:

State and local development

• successfully bid for the headquarters of the Defence Cooperative Research Centre for Trusted Autonomous Systems that will now be based in Queensland
• delivered the final year of the four year federally funded Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program, including support for 25 tourism infrastructure construction projects across Queensland as well as statewide industry capacity building projects
• approved $61.499 million for 73 Councils under the 2017–19 Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program to support local governments to meet the needs of their community through the delivery of priority capital infrastructure projects
• approved 20 local government borrowing applications, totalling $391 million, to support local government investment in capital needs
• funded $43.83 million in infrastructure as part of the Catalyst Infrastructure Program, with projects completed in Townsville, Toowoomba, Cairns and Sunshine Coast
• developed a pipeline, through the SIP, to highlight initiatives being planned and delivered by government, including but not limited to, the $5.4 billion to fully fund Cross River Rail and $225 million commitment over four years towards securing Townsville’s water supply, as part of the Townsville City Deal
• advanced the Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program with the installation of 80 new public moorings—13 in Cairns, 60 in the Whitsundays and seven in the Keppel area
• opened the Cairns node of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine to continue to build capacity to fight tropical diseases
• participated in the preparation of the Cross River Rail Collaborative Agreement to develop the Boggo Road Health and Science Precinct
• completed three of the 16 Master Plans for remote Indigenous Councils representing each community’s foundation for the future, providing a strategy to ensure a vibrant economy and healthy community for future generations through infrastructure development

Transport

• delivered almost $1 billion in transport infrastructure improvements across the Gold Coast to support Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018), including $353.7 million of road improvements and a further $583 million on heavy and light rail improvements
• delivered more than 5.3 million GC2018 related trips through the public transport network with all modes posting record passenger numbers
• opened the $14 million upgrade of Helensvale Bus Station, connecting buses, trains and trams at Queensland’s first tri-modal transport hub, which provides new bus shelters, improved pedestrian safety, improved signage, new bus facilities and upgraded park ‘n’ ride
• released the 2017–18 Passenger Transport Accessible Infrastructure Program worth $5.076 million
• the initiative provides funding assistance to local governments for upgrading existing passenger transport facilities to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and meet the requirements set out in the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002
• funding contributions were also provided to local governments to upgrade long-distance coach stops
• delivered the $3 million Ernie’s Roundabout bus layover and driver facility at Herston to enable bus network changes to support current and future public transport demand, resulting in significant safety and efficiency improvements for bus operations on the network
• continued rollout of both visual and audible real time information for passengers at bus stations across SEQ
• the real time passenger information displays (PID) included Text-to-Voice technology, which allows a customer to push a button located on the platform to activate an audible message of bus services, based on the visual real time PID information
• trialled Braille stop indicators at selected stops in the Brisbane CBD to assist customers with a disability to identify their intended bus stop
• the indicators included raised text, braille stop numbers and a QR code for online stop and real-time service information
• feedback from users was very positive, and the braille indicators will be rolled out at further locations commencing in 2018-19
• completed accessibility upgrades at Graceville, Dinmore, Alderley and Newmarket as part of the Queensland Rail Station Upgrade Program
• started construction the new multi-storey park ‘n’ ride facility at Mains Road in Nathan, being delivered in conjunction with the state government’s new State Netball Centre
• when complete, commuters will have access to 680 carparks in the precinct
• construction is due to be completed in mid to late 2018
• continued delivery of park ‘n’ ride facilities—opening Murarrie Station park ‘n’ ride upgrade (Stage 1), Varsity Lakes temporary park ‘n’ ride upgrade and commencing design for Cannon Hill Station and Murarrie (Stage 2) park ‘n’ ride upgrades—to help to make public transport more accessible to more people, and assist in managing congestion on the road network
• commenced New Generation Rollingstock passenger services on 11 December 2017 with 19 in service by 30 June 2018
• delivered the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2
• the northern 7.3 kilometre extension of Stage 2 was delivered ahead of schedule and opened to the public on Sunday 17 December 2017
• three new stations located at Parkwood, Parkwood East and Helensvale are now open and in operation
• works to complete the Parkwood station pedestrian footbridge across Smith Street were finished in late February 2018, well ahead of the GC2018
• continued to deliver rail services in Queensland with a two-year extension to the $2 billion Rail Transport Service Contract with Queensland Rail, the Queensland Government’s largest service contract
• completed the construction on the $10 million Rockhampton Road Train Access Stage 1 project to provide road train access to Rockhampton Abattoirs under the Priority Economic Works and Productivity Program
• stage 1 works included upgrades to intersections at: Moores Creek Road / Yaamba Road; Queen Elizabeth Drive / Bridge Street; Bruce Highway / Alexandra Street / High Street; Rockhampton-Emu Park Road / St Christopher Chapel Road
• launched Veloway 1 - Stage D on 20 December 2017 resulting in a dedicated grade-separated bikeway from O’Keefe Street, Woolloongabba South to Birdwood Road, Holland Park West
• provided $8.2 million under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme, to local governments for the upgrade of transport infrastructure (roads, air and sea) that improves access to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• commenced construction and upgrade works of the Torres Strait Air Strips Projects, through a commitment of $3.9 million, with five airstrip contracts awarded and work commenced on Badu, Moa (Kubin) and Iama Islands
• expended $12.3 million under Route Actions sub-program as part of the High Risk Roads (HRR) initiative
• completed the $34.2 million duplication of Bill Fulton Bridge on Cairns Western Arterial, funded by the Queensland Government’s $180 million Significant Regional Infrastructure Projects Program
• expended $154.3 million on road safety infrastructure programs on our major highways through the National Partnership Agreement
• finalised procurement for Queensland’s new public transport ticketing solution that will enable modern payment technologies such contactless debit and credit cards, smart phones and wearable devices in addition to go card and paper tickets, and will deliver employment opportunities through partnership with global provider
• commenced the Port of Brisbane Strategic Rail Access Study, which is a $1.5 million jointly funded Australian and Queensland Governments initiative

Correctional and emergency services

• delivered new 16 bed accommodation block at Brisbane Youth Detention Centre
• delivered the replacement Auxiliary station, rural fire and SES facility at Roma in conjunction with the Roma Chamber of Commerce with 90% of the works completed by local subcontractors
• delivered a $244 million capital program for public safety agencies to fund the upgrade or replacement of properties, facilities, vehicles, vessels, aircraft and information and communications systems and equipment to improve public safety service delivery
• rolled out the first 1350 load bearing vests to front line custodial officers to boost prison officer safety
• opened the new Townsville Probation and Parole District Office to safely integrate offenders into the community

Community and social services infrastructure

• delivered the Aurukun Splash Park Project, through a commitment of $2.58 million, providing the community with a safe play water park
• commenced project scoping for the Cape York Splash Park Projects, through a commitment of $4 million with the project planned to be completed in 2018–19 and Splash Parks to be built in the Cape York communities of Pormpuraaw, Napranum and Mapoon
• delivered the Three River’s Community Centre Upgrade Project, through a commitment of $2.1 million with the completed upgrade to the Centre providing a community space for activities in Aurukun
• reached traditional owner endorsement and commenced scoping of Wathaniin upgrade works, representing a commitment of $500,000 to transform the main centre into an accommodation option that could be utilised by the Traditional Owners to deliver training programs
• commenced the Mossman Gorge Infrastructure upgrade project, through a commitment of $4.8 million to normalise infrastructure within Mossman Gorge and enabling the future subdivision of the lots
• delivered a $320 million investment into sport and community infrastructure for GC2018 (including three new competition venues and upgrades to a further seven venues) that supported more than 1000 fulltime equivalent jobs during the design and construction phase
• constructed the GC2018 Village, which provided accommodation and services for up to 6600 athletes and team officials
• commenced construction on the North Queensland Stadium, a joint project of the Queensland Government, Australian Government and the Townsville City Council, supported by both the National Rugby League and the North Queensland Cowboys
• opened four new state schools in 2018 with a total investment of more than $150 million: Baringa State Primary School at Caloundra South; North Shore State School at Townsville; Picnic Creek State School at Coomera East; and Yarrabilba State School at Logan
• practical completion of 11 new school halls has been achieved as part of the $200 million Advancing Queensland State Schools initiative
• commenced planning and design for the new Inner City North and Inner City South State Secondary Colleges, West End State School expansion, Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology expansion and the Queensland Ballet Academy as part of the $800 million Building Future Schools program
• completed asset life cycle assessments at over 1200 sites, including State schools and early childcare centres
• announced the site for a new $150 million performing arts theatre at the Queensland Cultural Centre with a commitment of $125 million from the Queensland Government towards construction on the Playhouse Green site at QPAC
• completed the $2.25 million Cremorne Theatre refurbishment including redesign of stage and seating
• created the Indigenous Art Centre Infrastructure Fund investing $500,000 over two years to improve the sustainability of Arts Queensland funded Indigenous Art Centres by upgrading spaces and strengthening the Centre’s capacity to increase the supply of quality artwork
• created the Arts Infrastructure Fund with an investment of $250,000 for small to medium sized arts organisations across the state to improve their facilities and encourage greater access to arts and cultural experiences within local communities
• delivered a major upgrade of the coastal walking track at Noosa National Park
• commenced delivery of the Revitalising parks $35 million capital upgrade program to improve visitor facilities and ageing park infrastructure
• delivery of the National Partnership on Remote Housing Infrastructure project through an investment of $82 million.