Darling Downs Region The opening of the Quart Pot Creek footbridges Stanthorpe, November 2009 Darling Downs Darling Downs Regional profile Overview • Continuing to develop our capability to manage and operate Continued the delivery of the regional cycle network: the transport and road network through our people, local Darling Downs Region covers an area of approximately 77,389km2, governments and the private sector. • completed 5.8km of on-road and off-road cycleway or around 4.5% of Queensland. It extends from Miles in the north along West Street connecting the University of Southern to the New South Wales border in the south, and from Crows • Continuing to work in partnership with local government to Queensland to the Toowoomba central business district Nest, Toowoomba and Warwick in the east to Glenmorgan in the develop and deliver the Transport Infrastructure Development west. Scheme. • completed 2.4km of off-road cycleway along the New England Highway at Highfields, between Cawdor Road to Highfields Darling Downs Region has a resident population of approximately • Targeting the reduction of accident-prone areas through Safer State School 237,211 people and is home to approximately 5.4% of Roads Sooner. Queensland’s total population. • completed the McDougall Street and Hargrave Street Cycleway, including a 2.5 metre off-road cycleway through The state-controlled road network in the region is 4,297km in Significant achievements 2009-10 parkland. length, and includes 635km of the National Network. Commenced rehabilitation on a section of the New England The transport and road network supports a diverse array Objective 1: A sustainable transport system which Highway south of Drayton Connection Road, in Toowoomba. of industries including retail, tourism, sport, education, promotes economic growth and enhances liveability manufacturing, freight and construction; agriculture including Completed rehabilitation on sections of the Cunningham Highway beef cattle, fruit, dairy cattle, sheep, viticulture, cotton and grain; Continued Toowoomba sub-regional transport study to assess between Inglewood and Goondiwindi, and on the main street and mining including coal, oil and gas. current and future demands of public transport, freight and road through Yelarbon. network in Toowoomba. This will inform road and public transport Darling Downs Region has offices located in Toowoomba and network plans, support forecast growth, help manage heavy Continued rehabilitation on sections of Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Warwick. The region includes the local governments of Western vehicle impacts, and guide the development of management Road. Downs Regional Council, Goondiwindi Regional Council, Southern plans for individual links. Downs Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional Council. Commenced widening and rehabilitation on sections of the Objective 2: A transport system leading to improved Leichhardt Highway between Taroom and Goondiwindi, to meet health and wellbeing for Queenslanders Major challenges width standards and reduce roughness of the road. Provided projects through Safer Roads Sooner: • Ensuring safe and efficient travel conditions for transport and Commenced investigation for a future Warwick bypass. road users. • commenced shoulder widening and sealing on the Barwon Completed concept planning layouts for future duplication to Highway, west of Goondiwindi • Supporting economic development by assisting freight four lanes for some of the major arterial links in Toowoomba and movement associated with established industries such as surrounds. • commenced construction of caravan pull-over areas on the tourism, grain growing and pastoral activities; supporting the Leichhardt Highway oil and gas industries and the emerging freight hubs. • commenced sealing of various unsealed sections on the • Maintaining and managing an aging transport and road Warra-Kogan Road, north of Kogan network in rural and fast growing regional communities. • completed shoulder widening and sealing on Chinchilla-Tara Road Darling Downs | Regional profile Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2010-11 to 2013-14 | Page 89 Darling Downs | Regional profile Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2010-11 to 2013-14 | Page 90 • completed a range of safety improvements to address driver Objective 4: Transport-related impacts on the natural, cultural Completed work to replace the old timber bridge and approaches fatigue management at various locations in Western Downs and built environments managed for the community over Barwon River on the Talwood-Boonanga Road south of Regional Council. Talwood with a new concrete bridge, as part of the Strategic Commenced pest control management as part of an ongoing five- Regional Program, funded by the Australian Government and Commenced widening and overlay on sections of the Oakey- year program to eradicate declared weeds. Goondiwindi Regional Council. Cooyar Road about 15km north of Oakey, to improve safety for road users. Commenced collection of key environmental data including weeds, cultural heritage and degraded sites to improve impact Objective 6: Enhanced leadership and stakeholder Completed intersection improvements and installed guardrails assessments of road projects. relationships improving transport outcomes for Queensland and traffic islands on a number of intersections and tourist routes in Southern Downs Regional Council, as part of the Black Spot Continued to develop road construction and maintenance Commenced working with key stakeholders in the region to Program, funded by the Australian Government. practices to: effectively plan for future road infrastructure requirements associated with the coal and energy industry in the Surat Basin. Completed construction of an underpass to separate students • maintain biodiversity through reduced clearing, weed control from traffic at St Marys Primary School on Wood Street and replanting (Cunningham Highway), in Warwick. Key deliverables 2010-11 to 2011-12 • minimise land degradation Completed level crossing upgrades at five sites, as part of the Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program, funded by the Australian • minimise noise and vibration Objective 1: A sustainable transport system which Government. promotes economic growth and enhances liveability • maximise the re-use of materials, including commencing significant re-use of salvaged timber components from Continue Toowoomba sub-regional transport study to assess Objective 3: An accessible transport system linking replacement bridge projects for repairs on existing bridges. current and future demands of public transport, freight and road people to employment, education and services network in Toowoomba. This will inform road and public transport Continued to participate in key environmental stakeholder network plans, support forecast growth, help manage heavy Continued to help local government upgrade and maintain roads groups, such as the Chilean Needle Grass Working Group. vehicle impacts, and guide the development of management in their areas, as part of the Transport Infrastructure Development plans for individual links. Scheme: Continued strategic environmental investigations undertaken for key link roads. Continue widening and rehabilitation on sections of the • completed passenger set-down facilities, in Goondiwindi Leichhardt Highway between Taroom and Goondiwindi, to meet width standards and reduce roughness of the road. • completed works to replace the bridge across Inveramsay Objective 5: Support the capability and capacity of Road, east of Allora. Queensland’s transport and logistics-related industries Continue investigation for a future Warwick bypass. Completed flood damage and restoration works on the road Provide projects to replace the old timber bridges and Continue the delivery of the regional cycle network, including network damaged by flooding in January 2008, as part of the approaches with a new concrete bridge, as part of the Regional improvements to the cycleway along the West Creek Corridor and Natural Disaster Recovery and Relief Arrangements, jointly funded Bridge Renewal Program, including: Ruthven Street. by the Queensland Government and Australian Government. • commenced work on the bridge over Wilkie Creek on the Commence upgrade of floodways and rehabilitation of Dalby-Kogan Road sections on the Cunningham Highway, between Inglewood and Goondiwindi. • completed work on the bridge over Oaky Creek on the Inglewood-Texas Road. Continue rehabilitation on a section of Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road. Continue rehabilitation on sections of the New England Highway, Objective 3: An accessible transport system linking Objective 5: Support the capability and capacity of south of Drayton Connection Road. people to employment, education and services Queensland’s transport and logistics-related industries Commence sealing on a section of the Bunya Mountains- Continue to help local government upgrade and maintain roads Provide projects to replace the old timber bridges and Maclagan Road, near Rangemore School. in their areas, as part of the Transport Infrastructure Development approaches with a new concrete bridge, as part of the Regional Scheme: Bridge Renewal Program, including continuing work on the bridge Commence widening and sealing on sections of the Bunya over Wilkie Creek, on Dalby-Kogan Road. Highway, between Walkers Creek and Porters Gap. • commence safety improvements in Inglewood, Texas and Goondiwindi Commence work to replace the old timber bridge over Ashall Creek, on Dalby-Cecil