The plan is all about improving Queensland’s rural and regional roads and they were put under the spotlight in Canberra last week when the IQ-RAP Working Group held a meeting with senior ministers to sell the benefits of the plan.

The working group has some high powered local government representatives in it.

Chair is Boulia Mayor Rick Britton, and co-deputy chairs are Flinders Shire mayor Jane McNamara and Mareeba mayor Tom Gilmore.

The IQ-RAP partners have submitted a pre-budget submission to take the IQ-RAP to the next stage, which would include research to build the economic and social benefits case for investment into regional roads.

The IQ-RAP launched two years ago is the first of its type in Australia, and it identifies upgrades on a rural road network of around 16,000 km over the next 18 years.

The message the partners took to Canberra was that an upgraded inland road network would deliver faster more reliable transport times, which means less wear and tear on vehicles and a better quality of produce for the consumer.

Cr Britton said said they told ministers the IQ-RAP was more than just about roads, but also about the economic development of regional Queensland and an opportunity to create more jobs.

“Jobs” is a four letter word that always makes politicians sit up and take notice.

As the foreword of the plan states, Queensland’s economy is largely driven by the aggregated strength of its many regions and distributed population.

“Industries such as mining and energy, agriculture, tourism and construction are significant contributors to the national and state economy, and also create more jobs in regional Queensland than Brisbane,” the plan said. “Regional Queensland is a significant source of the $49.5 billion of product exported each year through Queensland’s many ports and airports.”

Having a good road network is crucial to that flow. – Derek Barry