Civil Contractors Federation Queensland has welcomed the Federal Budget’s investment in infrastructure projects, but believes more is needed to support the workforce
The 2025 Federal Budget is maintaining the Infrastructure Investment Program Pipeline above $120 billion and signals strong growth, Civil Contractors Federation Queensland says.
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The Federal Budget delivers $17.1 billion for new and existing road and rail infrastructure projects through the Infrastructure Investment Program, including:
- $7.2 billion for safety upgrades on the Bruce Highway in Queensland
- Over $2.3 billion for critical infrastructure upgrades in the growing Western Sydney region, including $1 billion to preserve the corridor for the South West Sydney Rail Extension and $500 million to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue
- A further $465 million for New South Wales to plan for regional projects and fix notorious choke points, including $250 million to upgrade Mona Vale Road and $115 million to reduce travel times on Terrigal Drive
- $2 billion to upgrade Sunshine Station in Victoria, a crucial project to deliver Melbourne Airport its first rail link
- $1.1 billion to support upgrades along the Western Freeway in Victoria
- $1 billion for Victoria’s Road Blitz, a new package of works to increase capacity and improve efficiency in Melbourne’s suburbs and surrounds
- $350 million for the Westport – Kwinana Freeway Upgrades in Western Australia
- $200 million to duplicate sections of the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Katherine in the Northern Territory
- $200 million to upgrade the Arthur Highway in Tasmania.
- $125 million for the Curtis Road Level Crossing Removal in South Australia
- $50 million towards upgrading the Monaro Highway in the Australian Capital Territory
- A further $200 million to ensure the delivery of the Rockhampton Ring Road in Queensland
- A further $70 million to seal the remaining 11 kilometres of unsealed pavement on the Kennedy Developmental Road between The Lynd and Hughenden in Queensland.
CCF QLD CEO Damian Long says the announcement is a positive signal for local contractors and the communities these projects will benefit.
“This investment is a strong show of confidence in the importance of infrastructure to our economy and our future,” Long says.
However, Long says more needs to be done to ensure the workforce delivering these projects is supported.
“The men and women who build this infrastructure are as important as the funding, and it’s time the Commonwealth also invested in developing the skilled workforce required to deliver on these commitments,” he says.
“Without adequate investment in people, these projects risk delay and cost overruns.”