Industry, jobs and rural economies will be the big winners from a long-awaited State Government commitment to seal the Hann Highway according to Member for Mount Isa, Rob Katter.
Almost $20 million in the Queensland budget has been ear-marked to kick-start the project.
“Rural towns along the route will receive a much-needed boost to their economies - both in construction jobs, but also through traffic along the road in the long-term,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Katter said numerous industries would reap reward from the sealing of the Hann Highway.
“This investment spans across a number of industries and issues – from boosting employment, tourism, agriculture and horticulture to road safety and fatigue management of our long-haul drivers,” he said.
“It will make a huge difference to the bottom line of producers in the Far North,” Mr Katter said.
“Sealing the route means producers can get their world-class fruit and vegetables to market much more efficiently and without the cost burden of extra travel,” he said.
“The banana industry - which is Australia’s single biggest horticulture industry – now has a transport corridor to get its produce from Far North Queensland to the Melbourne and Sydney markets eight hours earlier.
“We all know the troubles involved with travelling on the Bruce Highway – unfortunately, it is flood and accident prone, leading to avoidable transport delays for producers.”
He said the Hann Highway is the answer for an alternative inland route and a nation-building piece of infrastructure that will benefit all long into the future.
Mr Katter said the safety and long-term financial benefits of the inland route couldn’t be underestimated.
“One triple road train on the Hann Highway can take two B-Doubles off the Bruce Highway.
“This will lead to significant savings in road maintenance from Government, and also cutting costs for wear and tear on the vehicles of transporters. Investing in the Hann Highway will no doubt pay for itself in the long run.”
Mr Katter thanked Roads Minister Mark Bailey for committing $19.6 million to seal the Hann Highway from The Lynd to Hughenden.
“Investing in the Hann Highway spans across a number of industries and issues – from boosting employment, tourism, agriculture and horticulture to road safety and fatigue management of our long-haul drivers.
“There is also the much-needed boost to the economies of our rural towns along the route.
“I thank Minister Bailey for the vital contribution and also congratulate the hard work of key stakeholders such as the former mayors of Flinders and Etheridge Councils, Hughenden Chamber of Commerce and Advance Cairns, Hann Highway Action Group and NorthBEEF.”
