Gas Supply 3.31 Australia’S North Has Enormous Gas Reserves Which Could Provide a Cost Effective Domestic Energy Supply.183
3 Development Proposals Overview 3.1 The Committee has received many proposals for major capital infrastructure developments which would require direct government funding for facilitation. 3.2 This chapter lists these proposals and briefly identifies preconditions needed for them to proceed. The proposals are listed by category, then alphabetically. The projects described in this chapter are priority-listed in Chapter 5. Road Infrastructure Proposals 3.3 Roads are the vital connection for service delivery and the transport of produce between regional towns and centres across the nation. The condition of roads in the North is variable, with many being unsealed, or partially sealed, and subject to seasonal flooding.1 National Highways and Major Arterial Roads Bruce Highway—upgrading for flood mitigation, safety and capacity improvement north and south of Mackay and the provision of a dual carriageway between Edmonton and Gordonvale would sustain major developments north of Cairns and secure access to southern ports during severe weather events.2 Federal funding of $6.7 billion has been allocated 1 Australian Government, Green Paper on Developing Northern Australia, Canberra 2014, p. 33. 2 Mr Andre Wessells, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Mackay–Isaac–Whitsunday, Committee Hansard, Mackay, 31 March 2014, pp. 1–2; Mr Tim Miles, Chair, Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce, Committee Hansard, Mackay, 31 March 72 PIVOT NORTH for upgrades over 10 years which include $3 billion for north Queensland.3 Central Arnhem Highway—Katherine to Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory—upgrading, with further upgrades of the Stuart Highway, would support community and industry development after the closure of Rio Tinto Alcan’s bauxite refinery in late 2014.4 Great Northern Highway—Pilbara and Kimberley region to Port Hedland, Western Australia—upgrading would improve the Pilbara– Kimberley road network.
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