$33 million disappears from Gold Coast road upgrades and improvements list

News.com.au

4 hours ago

Millions of dollars in funding for road upgrades across the Gold Coast have disappeared from the state budget, casting doubt over ten transport projects.
More than $33 million is no longer listed in the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) released by the state government this week.
The annual document provides a detailed breakdown of projects to be delivered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the funding allocations over the coming years.
At least ten previously funded Gold Coast projects now appear to have no money budgeted to deliver them in the latest QTRIP covering 2025-26 to 2028-29. Instead, the transport projects are listed as still in the planning phase or have been placed on hold to be delivered at a later date.
Gaven MP Meghan Scanlon said she feared the lack of transparency over the funding amounts could mean the projects won't be delivered at all.
'Its been a long-standing tradition from both sides of politics to provide that long-term funding breakdown so Queenslanders can openly see how much money has been allocated,' Ms Scanlon said.
'That's all been swept under the rug, it's kept secret, I suspect because the transport minister made some bold claims that he now can't deliver.'
Among the funding amounts that have vanished from QTRIP are:
$1.9M to upgrade pedestrian facilities at the Broadbeach Rd and Carrara Rd (Ross St) intersection, Nerang.
$1.16M for intersection improvements on Hope Island Rd (Oxley Dr) and Sunbird Ave, Paradise Point.
$12.29M for bus infrastructure upgrades on Burleigh Connection Rd and Varsity Lakes Train station.
$6M for upgrades on Currumbin Creek Rd and Bienvenue Dr.
$1.64M for intersection upgrades on Currumbin Creek Rd and Stewart Rd.
$5M for intersection upgrades at Burleigh Rd and Markeri St, Southport.
$1.48M intersection improvements at Nerang Rd, Minnie St and Anne St, Southport.
$800K for planning on upgrades to Burleigh Rd, Southport.
$1.41M for intersection improvements Burleigh Rd and Slayter Ave, Southport.
$2.03M for safety improvements on Nerang Rd and Ashmore Rd, Ashmore.
Last week the LNP flagged changes to the way QTRIP is published in what Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said would 'restore respect' for taxpayers' money.
'This is about ending the waste and restoring fiscal discipline to make every dollar stretch further for Queenslanders,' Minister Mickelberg said.
'Labor routinely announced project cost allocations before the market had a chance to competitively tender – locking in big prices and locking out better value.'
However Ms Scanlon accused the LNP of failing to be 'transparent' about the changes.
'The problem is, if it's now secret, I think the LNP should come out, be open and transparent with Queenslanders about where this money is,' she said.
'They went to the election saying they were going to be transparent, saying they were going to be a government with integrity. We have seen the complete opposite almost every day from the Crisafulli government.'
The Bulletin asked the Transport Minister's office why the previous funding commitments for the Gold Coast projects had disappeared and how they would still be delivered by the government.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said: 'All projects are either in planning or about to start procurement. Once the contract has been awarded the full project costs will be disclosed within QTRIP with all the other contracted projects.'