Warrego Highway – Toowoomba Range Crossing
Introduction
This document provides a long-term investment strategy Continued strong growth along the South East Government), and are either under construction or to improve the safety, reliability, capacity, transport Queensland western corridor and the development well-advanced in terms of planning. These priorities efficiency and flood immunity on the Warrego Highway. of the Surat Basin energy province are placing are published in the current Queensland Transport The highway is Queensland’s principal east-west freight significant pressures on the highway. and Roads Investment Program. route, extending 714km west from Brisbane to Charleville. The Warrego Highway Upgrade Strategy identifies short, Investments beyond the four-year horizon will be As the primary road link in south-western Queensland, medium and long-term priorities spanning the length dependent on available federal and state funding. providing access and economic opportunity to of the Warrego Highway from Brisbane to Charleville. This Strategy will form the basis for future funding communities and industry in the region, the Warrego Collectively, these priorities demonstrate how the negotiations with the Australian Government. Highway provides an essential freight route for the Warrego Highway can support the growth and prosperity As part of the National Land Transport Network, of movement of commodities such as coal, grain, meat of southern Queensland over coming decades. which the Warrego Highway is a critical link, funding and cotton to domestic and international markets. These priorities will be supported by ongoing corridor support from the Australian Government is required The highway is a four-lane, dual carriageway highway improvements and continued maintenance as part of to enable related highway projects to be completed. between Ipswich and Toowoomba, and generally a broader vision for safe, reliable and efficient travel. The Queensland Government will continue to work a two-lane highway west of Toowoomba. A high Of these priority investments, those within the one to closely with the Australian Government to agree on proportion of heavy vehicle traffic services the four-year time horizon are funded (or are the subject a prioritised pipeline of investments to make this region’s agricultural, energy and commercial sectors. of current funding submissions to the Australian plan a reality.
02 Planning for stronger regions Transport Coordination Plan Key Warrego Highway Facts The Warrego Highway Upgrade Strategy forms part of The Transport Coordination Plan delivers the vision for Queensland’s principal east-west freight the Queensland Government’s overall strategic planning the transport system to connect Queensland, promote route, extending 714km west from Brisbane for the state. This planning ensures infrastructure and economic development and improve the quality of life to Charleville services can be provided to accommodate population for Queenslanders. It informs more detailed transport system strategies, plans and investment decisions. Forms part of the Australian Government’s growth, support economic prosperity and enhance the liveability of Queensland’s regions. National Land Transport Network Integrated Freight Strategy for Queensland Is the second-highest trafficked rural Queensland Regionalisation Strategy and Developed by the Department of Transport and Main national highway outside South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan Roads in conjunction with industry, the Integrated Queensland, after the Bruce Highway Regionalisation is a key tool in shaping the future of Freight Strategy for Queensland (IFSQ) is a high-level Passes through the major regional centres Queensland and accommodating expected growth. strategy that establishes principles and guidelines of Ipswich, Toowoomba, Oakey, Dalby, to inform government policy, planning, regulation Chinchilla, Miles, Roma, Mitchell, Morven The Queensland Regionalisation Strategy focuses and investment to develop more efficient freight and Charleville, and serves as a key tourist on building stronger regions and ensuring growth solutions for the future. As a key link in the Australian route to outback Queensland and economic opportunities are shared throughout Government’s proposed National Land Freight Queensland. It provides a vision for Queensland’s Network, the Warrego Highway has an important role A vital transport link for communities and regions and is the overarching strategic framework for in the efficient movement of freight. Current capacity rural settlements in the Lockyer Valley, regional policy and planning. constraints of the rail network limit the opportunity Darling Downs, Maranoa and south-west for bulk transport by rail of commodities such as coal Queensland regions The Queensland Infrastructure Plan has been developed alongside the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy and grain, making the upgrade of the Warrego Highway Is the transport gateway for the burgeoning to ensure that Queensland has the infrastructure even more urgent. energy sector in the Surat Basin to respond to prosperity and quality of life needs Will support a predicted population increase as the state’s population and economy continue Regional Planning of 95,000 by 2031 in the Surat Basin region to grow. To be updated annually, the Queensland The Queensland Regionalisation Strategy provides (including Toowoomba, Western Downs and Infrastructure Plan outlines principles to guide long- the framework for other planning activities to Maranoa regional councils) term infrastructure investment in collaboration with all ensure consistency and to support the outcomes of levels of government and the private sector, supported regionalisation. through a pipeline of investment in growth-related infrastructure when and where it is needed most. Other plans, such as statutory regional plans, council planning schemes, regional planning policies and A key action of the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy integrated regional transport plans all contribute to is improving the efficiency and reliability on east- good planning across Queensland’s regions. A range west and inland freight routes, including the Warrego of plans and government strategies are in place across Highway, with priorities for improving safety, reliability, the state to respond to Queensland’s population and capacity, transport efficiency and flood immunity. economic growth.
Warrego Highway Upgrade Strategy 2012 03 Oakey gas fired power station
Connecting SEQ 2031 Queensland Transport and Roads Investment development in the region over the next 20 years and beyond. While this provides opportunities for economic Connecting SEQ 2031 is the Queensland Government’s Program development, it also puts extreme pressure on local long-term transport plan to develop a sustainable The Queensland Transport and Roads Investment communities, services and infrastructure, including transport system in the south-east corner of the state. Program, developed by the Department of Transport the Warrego Highway. This Statement aims to Over the next two decades, the vision for South East and Main Roads, is a four-year rolling program of road maximise economic benefits and minimise any Queensland includes the development of a more fully and transport infrastructure works. It is published unintended consequences of rapid growth for the integrated transport network to support a prosperous annually on the basis that works identified in years one region. It recognises that an upgraded Warrego region. Upgrading of the Warrego Highway and the and two are fully committed, with those in years three Highway is vital to facilitate development of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing are strategic and four indicative for planning purposes. This allows Surat Basin energy province. priorities identified in the plan for completing the local government, industry and the community to plan motorway network. ahead with greater certainty. The draft Surat Basin Regional Transport Strategy prepared in 2011, considered the various and Key projects in the Queensland Transport and Roads 2007 Brisbane – Darwin and Melbourne – wide-ranging impacts on the transport network in Investment Program are reflected in the Queensland Brisbane Corridor Strategies the Surat Basin and identified strategic actions Infrastructure Plan. to support sustainable growth in the region. It The 2007 Brisbane - Darwin Corridor Strategy and recognises that development in the Surat Basin the 2007 Melbourne - Brisbane Corridor Strategy – Surat Basin Future Directions Statement and Draft is currently, and will continue to place, significant jointly developed by the Australian and Queensland Surat Basin Regional Transport Strategy pressure on the already strained Warrego Highway, Governments – provide short and long-term visions for The Surat Basin Future Directions Statement released and that significant investment needs to be made the Warrego Highway corridor. Along with identifying by the Queensland Government in 2010 establishes a to ensure the transport network will be able to emerging transport demand pressures and performance framework for the state, community and industry to cater for current and future traffic demand and issues, these strategies provide statements of key work together to achieve a prosperous and sustainable support continued economic development. challenges, shared objectives and strategic priorities future for the Surat Basin region. for the corridor and have guided development of the The draft Transport Strategy identifies upgrading the Warrego Highway Upgrade Strategy. Development of the vast coal and coal seam gas Warrego Highway, including the Toowoomba Second resources in the Surat Basin, located between Range Crossing, as short to medium-term priorities. Toowoomba and Roma, will drive significant economic
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