Regulation News

Private enterprise rallies behind road project

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss and Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls have announced a promising response from the private sector to a call for registrations of interest (ROI) on the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.
They said the ROI process, which is now closed, was designed to gauge the level of interest in the market for the construction, operation and maintenance of the 41km road project. 
?From the broad range of inquiries received, it is clear there is a very high level of interest from industry players, both big and small, in getting involved in this exciting project that will help drive economic growth in Queensland,? Truss said. ?The registrations range from international and Australian consortia through to smaller local construction companies.? 
Nicholls said the companies included well known Australian and international planning and construction firms. ?The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is one of our government?s top three infrastructure priorities,? he said. 
?We?ve been able to secure an 80-20 funding arrangement which will mean the Federal Government will contribute up to $1.3 billion for this vital road project. It?s a project that will have major economic benefits as it opens up further development of the Surat Basin and the Darling Downs. We expect more than 1800 new jobs will be created as a result of the construction and operation of this project.? 
Reception from local MPs
The Federal Minister for Industry and Federal Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane (whose electorate takes in the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing) said the strong show of support from private enterprise was testament to the importance of the bypass to the national infrastructure network. 
?The number of companies registering interest means industry is getting behind this project which means so much for Toowoomba,? Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts added. ?The second range crossing will give heavy commercial vehicles a way to bypass Toowoomba?s CBD when transporting goods to market, unclogging a bottleneck in the national infrastructure.? 
Queensland Agriculture Minister and Member for Toowoomba South John McVeigh added the new range crossing would free up capacity on Queensland?s transportation networks.
Nicholls said there would be further opportunities to attract private sector players in the approaching Expression of Interest (EOI) phase expected to be launched in late March. 
Source: Office of the Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade The Honourable Tim Nicholls

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