The region will receive more than 60 percent of the $40 million allocating in this year’s State Budget for road enhancement across western Queensland, said State Roads Minister Mark Bailey, who was visiting Mount Isa.

He said eight projects worth more than $25 million over two years will strengthen and seal carriageways from Bedourie to Boulia, Cloncurry and Julia Creek.

The minister told The North West Star at the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area, on Barkly Highway, to the city’s east, road funding had been halved under the previous administration.

Mr Bailey said Mount Isa MP Robbie Katter had been agitating for the return to previous models since Labor won office in February. 

“This hits the spot,” Mr Katter told the Star at the truck stop.

It was what the drought-stricken towns needed, he said.

The deterioration of road funding was “a blow to councils, putting them in a stressed financial position,” Mr Katter said.

“Roads have always been the main business of our local councils, which are the biggest employers in the area.

“If you sustain the roads, you sustain the economy and improve the long-term productivity and potential of the region.”

It would more money into country towns and communities flowing into pubs, grocery stores, businesses and consumer’s pockets, thus stimulating their economies.

“This package will prove good roads need to be the focus of the State Government, if they hope to develop the North.”

Mr Katter also was pleased the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme funding has been boosted to $70 million after years of campaigning.

The Minister, who was has been the Member for Yeerongpilly, south of the river in Brisbane, since first elect to Parliament last February, said the work will be allocated over two stages with $5 million to be spent this current fiscal year and $21 million in the next.

 “Not only are we building better roads out west where they’re needed, we’re also supporting more than 70 jobs for road workers when jobs and job security are more important than ever,” Mr Bailey said.

He said the funding would enhance the roads and lives of the people in western Queensland.

The two MPs casually meet truck driver “Coffo” at the rest area and admired his rig, “The Curry Kid”.

(“Just call me Coffo. Everyone knows me as Coffo. They wouldn’t know who you were talking about, if you used my real name,” he said in reply to the Star’squestion.)

Coffo hauls slag from Mount Isa for reprocessing, usually making about two trips a day when not waylaid by MPs.

He said he had first-hand experience of the degraded and poorly maintained nature of the roads under the previous administration, and this increase in monies would benefit all carriageway users.

“This will make the roads safer,” he said. “It is a big thing.”

He admitted $25 million over two year was “a drop in the bucket”.

“But, at least, it is being done.”

Mr Katter agreed.

He saw the Government’s interest in regional infrastructure as a positive, but believed there was more to be done.

“It’s always good to see representatives from either side of government make their way out to Mount Isa to see our issues first hand,” he said.

“Progress has begun for smart spending on our highways.

“This must continue to open up our region to building strong and competitive industries.”

The roads program will focus on widening and sealing. 

Included in the upgrade project is $3.2 million for sections of the Wills Development Road in the far north-west. 

A total of $13 million for the Diamantina Developmental Road, with four key upgrades to Boulia from Charleville identified.  

Key routes targeted for the Western Roads Upgrade Program include Gulf Developmental Road between Croydon and Georgetown, Burke Developmental Road, Richmond to Winton Road, Cloncurry to Dajarra Road, Eyre Developmental Road between Bedourie and Birdsville, Balonne Highway between Bollon and Cunnamulla, Mitchell Highway between Barringun and Cunnamulla, Bulloo Developmental Road from Cunnamulla to Thargomindah.