Rockhampton Ring Road fully funded

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Steven Miles today celebrated construction progress on the $1.73 billion Rockhampton Ring Road - a project that is now fully funded by both levels of government.

The commitment will deliver the full 17.4 km Rockhampton Ring Road, with an increased Australian Government commitment of $1.2 billion and an increased Queensland Government commitment to $530 million.

This transformative project for Central Queensland will increase connections to key precincts in the city and improve access, travel times to critical services including the hospital and emergency services, and road safety.

The ring road alignment opens up new travel routes to key leisure, retail, education and defence facilities.

The Rockhampton Ring Road project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build capability within the regional workforce, with an extended pipeline of road infrastructure construction that provides opportunities for apprentices and trainees, engineers and technical services to be engaged on this significant infrastructure build.

Construction on the first $280 million package of works started in November 2023.

Both contractor joint ventures mobilised to site in November to start construction at key work locations in Parkhurst and on Rockhampton-Ridgelands Road in West Rockhampton.

Construction on this phase of the Rockhampton Ring Road is expected to take up to two years to complete.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

"Late last year the Australian and Queensland Governments confirmed construction would be underway on the Rockhampton Ring Road by the end of 2023, and here we are two months into construction to deliver this essential infrastructure project for Central Queensland.

"This significant investment by the Australian and Queensland Governments is a long-term, visionary project for Queensland's biggest highway, the lifeline for the state of Queensland that will unlock future economic growth, build flood resilience, reduce travel times, improve road safety and support jobs."

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier Steven Miles:

"The Rockhampton Ring Road will be a critical new artery for central Queensland, and the broader Bruce Highway.

"It means a safer and quicker drive for locals and more productive travel for our transport sector, moving freight around the state.

"When complete, big trucks will avoid 19 sets of traffic lights through the middle of Rockhampton, which has long been regarded as the pinch point for travel on the Bruce Highway. That is critical for Queensland's economic growth.

"I'm proud that our governments have come together to fully fund the Rockhampton Ring Road - to create jobs, local supply chain opportunities, and better connections for the region."

Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

"The Australian Government's commitment to fund and deliver ensures that Rockhampton and the central Queensland region can maximise both the economic and human benefit from the project, building capability and skills in the region.

"I am delighted that this will support industries and keep freight moving throughout Queensland."

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish:

"Finalising the agreement between the Australian and Queensland Governments to fund the full cost of the Rockhampton Ring Road, is testament to the commitment the Miles Government has to regional Queensland.

"The Rockhampton Ring Road will transform Rockhampton.

"Increased connections to key precincts in the city will improve access and travel times to critical services including the hospital and emergency services, open up new travel routes for the defence services, the leisure, retail and education precincts, and move through-freight out of the city, decreasing conflicts between heavy vehicles and commuter traffic, improving road safety and the ambience of the city."

Extra background information:

To maximise local engagement, local buy targets are embedded in the contract, and throughout the contract development process the importance of engaging local businesses and resources has been prioritised with the contractor joint ventures.

Within less than 10 weeks of possession of site, local sub-contractor engagement on the Rockhampton Ring Road project is already tracking well with 47 of the 68 contracts awarded to date going to local businesses.

The target for local engagement on this first construction package is more than 80 per cent of sub-contract value awarded to local business.

While its early days for construction delivery, on South Package 1 contract value awarded to local businesses is already at 85 per cent.

Further opportunities for engagement on the project will be available as the delivery strategy for the full scope of the project is confirmed and further packages of work are released to the market.