Queensland’s push for infrastructure growth

The state’s coffers are filled with money earmarked for regional and south-east infrastructure and housing projects following mass interstate migration north last year.

Almost 40,000 more people called the state home in 2021, the largest increase in 27 years, with a further 250,000 expected in the next four years. Infrastructure funding was the “cornerstone” of the state’s budget released in late June, meaning job creation for the construction industry.

Queensland recently released its State Infrastructure Strategy which looks ahead to the next 20 years for infrastructure, jobs and communities.

$200 million has been allocated to proactively address housing land supply, with almost 50,000 residential lots becoming available in the south-east of the state.

In some areas, funding will be supplemented by property developers who will be required to make co-investments of at least 20% towards the cost of major infrastructure going into their projects.

The state’s Regional Infrastructure Planning program is expected to set ambitious goals to influence strong investment to industry and councils. The Queensland Government also intends to publish an annual Infrastructure Pipeline report and support councils to deliver priority infrastructure.

Image: The Clem Jones tunnel in Brisbane.

About the author

Desi Corbett

Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia and at the helm of our magazine for 8 years. She was behind the Institute's weekly news bulletins from 2016-2021 and is now writing our focused news items. Desi has been an engineering news and features journalist/editor across all disciplines since 2013 - part of a 30-year career writing for a wide range of industries.