Roads given priority in tight council budget

Flood damage work totalling $118 million forms the cornerstone of a massive Capital Works budget for the 2011-2012 financial year.

The Rebuilding our Roads initiative remained a top priority for council in formulating the budget, which will be handed down later this month.

Under the Natural Disaster Recovery Relief Arrangements, council has approval for $107 million in work from the 2010 Cyclone Ului event, with a further submission, still being assessed for the 2010-2011 weather events.

Apart from the federal-state disaster relief funding, council will allocate an additional $12.4 million to the trunk road network in the 2011-12 budget, as part of a $34.3 million capital works program on roads and drainage.

Roads infrastructure portfolio councillor Kevin Casey said council had prioritised its work schedule to deliver the best outcome for the funds available.

“We have a major focus on recovery and rebuilding, targeting those roads that handle the most traffic.”

A further $2million, to complement the committed $20 million upgrade to Connors Road, has been allocated for additional upgrade work to the key connector roads in the Paget Industrial Estate.

    Roads Infrastructure commitments:
•    $5.5 million to resurface local roads, including Farleigh-Habana Rd, Shakespeare Street and Victoria Street.
•    $5.2 million trunk drainage work
•    $3 million General road works
•    $1.7 million for road safety initiatives in local suburban streets
•    $1.2 million footpaths-bikeways

“This is about planning for the future, delivering better roads and generating hundreds of jobs in the local area,” Cr Casey said.

Mayor Col Meng said council had managed to maintain its infrastructure investment amid a commitment to deliver a general residential rate increase well under five per cent in the 2011-12 budget to ease cost of living pressures on residents.

Contact: Mackay Regional Council

Phone: 1300 MACKAY (1300 622 529)