Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone president David Glasson said he was disappointed there was no commitment towards projects the development group considered a priority. 

One of the key projects listed was the sealing of the Hann Highway, an alternative route between Cairns and Melbourne which would intersect with the Flinders Highway at Hughenden. “With only days left in the current election campaign it is now critical that the current government and opposition recognise how important the Hann Highway project is for developing Northern Australia,” Mr Glasson said. 

He said communities such as Hughenden depended on the project. 

There had been much planning and lobbying in recent years for the Hann Highway project. 

“We see this project as shovel ready and in reality it is now time this project was funded,” Mr Glasson said. 

Last year, state member for Mount Isa Rob Katter told Parliament an inland highway via the Hann Highway and the Torrens Creek-Aramac Road would save 13 hours of driving from Cairns to Melbourne, and triple road trains could use the new route.

KAP leader and the federal member for Kennedy Bob Katter was also supportive of an RACQ statement urging the state government to allocate funding to the Hann Highway, which would link North Queensland to Melbourne.

“The Hann Highway is the missing link between Lynd and Hughenden – linking Cairns to Melbourne, this development would shave 700 kilometres and two days off the inland trip,” Bob Katter said. 

“It has the added advantage of road trains being able to travel the whole way without needing to unhook their trailers. 

‘‘This would drastically reduce maintenance, fuel and fatigue management. 

‘‘This section of road desperately needs the funding to complete the project.”

 “Both governments are stalling on the additional funding required for the completion of the highway.”