A federal government-supplied map of the south-east's motorway network shows why Queenslanders say Canberra is short-changing the state hundreds of millions of dollars over the M1 upgrade.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The map from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development shows Brisbane's Urban National Land Transport Network, featuring the national highways around Brisbane.
The Pacific Motorway's classification changes where it meets the Logan Motorway.
Heading south towards the Gold Coast, the Pacific Motorway is classed as a "non-urban national network", marked in green.
Under the federal government's own classification, that means road projects on this stretch should be funded 80 per cent by the federal government and 20 per cent by the Queensland government.
The section of the M1 north of the Logan Motorway, which becomes the Gateway Motorway and is marked in green and gold on the map, is classified by both the federal and state governments as the "urban national road network" and has a 50:50 funding arrangement.
Jamie Briggs, the federal government's previous assistant minister for infrastructure and regional development, confirmed this in a media release on December 11, 2014.
"The Australian government has reintroduced the traditional 80:20 funding split for new road and rail projects on the national network outside of metropolitan areas. Under Labor these networks would have been abandoned," Mr Briggs said in December 2014.
During the 2016 federal election there was outcry from the Queensland government and the RACQ when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a 50:50 funding spit – where the federal government contributed $215 million for the M1 between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes, as well as sections between Eight Mile Plains and Springwood, including the Gateway merge.
Queensland's Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that sum was $66 million less than should be provided by the federal government.
Queensland is asking for that funding to be increased to $430 million to allow both M1 projects to be finished by the second half of 2019.
On Thursday, Mr Bailey hosted a "cross-the-political spectrum" meeting, which decided to send a delegation to Canberra to argue for equivalent highway funding to New South Wales.
All five pointed out that the federal government is funding 80 per cent of 600 kilometres of Pacific Motorway highway expansions from the New South Wales border to Hexham, near Newcastle.
However that was rejected by a spokesman for federal Major Projects minister Paul Fletcher, who said Queensland was simplifying the project funding.
"Funding share provided by the Commonwealth on major transport infrastructure projects varies," the spokesman said.
"It is quite common to provide funding on a 50:50 basis. It is simply not correct to say, that there is a standard 80:20 formula used in all road and rail projects funded by the Commonwealth."
The Turnbull Government is providing more than $13 billion for infrastructure in Queensland, including: $6.7 billion for the Bruce Highway, $1.14 billion for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, $914 million for Gateway Motorway North, $200 million for Ipswich Motorway and $95 million for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2.
Gold Coast and Logan mayors Tom Tate and Luke Smith - who have both consistently argued for the federal government to contribute 80 per cent, and not 50 per cent of the project funding - on Thursday argued their case with RACQ executive director Paul Turner and Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Nick Behrens.
They will use the federal government's own mapping to press the case.
Mr Bailey said a solution was needed.
"This is not a Palaszczuk government issue, this is a local government issue, this is an industry issue and this is a motorists issue," Mr Bailey said.
Mr Behrens said M1 traffic congestion was hurting the freight industry, tradies and white-collar business community.
"We are unimpressed that the Commonwealth is not willing to abide by an established and enshrined principle that these roads be funded 80 per cent by the Commonwealth," Mr Behrens said.
Cr Luke Smith said 147,000 motorists "morning and night" sat in traffic at the Gateway/Logan motorway merge. He said his council was "terribly disappointed" only 50 per cent of funding was offered.
"Because it means it (the highway widening) doesn't happen.
"My message to the prime minister is: 'We have had enough of New South Wales turning its back on Queensland. It has happened once too often and its time to get your attention.' "
Mr Turner said the stand of representatives from either side of the political fence needed to be heard by the federal government.
"Quite frankly, the only way we can get this work started is if it is 80:20."
Fairfax Media understands different sections of the Pacific Motorway in New South Wales are funded in different ratios.
The $614 million Frederickton to Euengai section which opened a few weeks ago and the $780 million Nambucca Heads to Uranga section of the M1 are funded 50:50 by New South Wales and the federal governments.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate reminded both the federal and state governments they had "thin margins".
"And when you have thin margins, you get out there," he said.
"One in seven people in south-east Queensland are voters. I think let's make our numbers count."
During the election campaign, Mr Turnbull suggested the Queensland government would ultimately accept the $215 million - as 50:50 funding - for the two Pacific Motorway projects.
Queensland argues the federal government is providing 80:20 funding to the Pacific Motorway in New South Wales for the 669 kilometres from the border to Hexham near Newcastle, at a total cost of $5.6 billion.
It also argues the federal government is providing 80 per cent of funding to several Queensland projects - outside this urban road network, including:
- The Bruce Highway ($8.5 billion);
- The Warrego Highway ($635 million);
- Gateway Arterial North upgrade ($1.14 billion); and
- Toowoomba Second Range Crossing($1.6 billion).
