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A packed Toowoomba City Hall today heard about the $3.8bn of major projects that will help shape Toowoomba and the Surat Basin over the next 5 years as Queensland Major Contractors Association launched the 2018 Major Projects Pipeline Report.
With projects such as the Second Range Crossing and Inland Rail connecting the region like never before, QMCA President, Peter Anusas, said that the future looks bright. “The Toowoomba and Surat Basin region is in a very strong position to continue to grow and prosper as it become even more connected to its regional, national and international markets.”
“As a region, its is understood that major projects provide significant benefits to our towns, communities and, as an area with significant agricultural and resources interests, the value that being able to get products to market quickly and efficiently is vital.”
“But, we also know the dangers that boom and bust brings and it is essential that the region continues to work together to ensure that projects are funded and delivered, efficiently, affordably and on time.”
“To avoid boom and bust within our sector we need to ensure that as much as possible of the $3.8bn of projects are fully funded and, in a position, to commence work, to employ locals and to deliver the projects that the region needs to continue to grow.”
“With the LNG industry becoming relatively stable, we will see projects like Bull Creek and Darling Downs Solar Farms coming on line and Inland Rail will begin to enter significant construction phase, it is now about ensuring that we see the pipeline become a reality and not a pipe dream.”
Mr Anusas said that collaboration is at the heart of the report, “By working together all stakeholders can ensure that Queensland has the infrastructure it needs, when it needs it, at a cost it can afford.”
“From improvements in planning, procurement and tendering, to investment in people, processes and technologies, there exists an opportunity to do things differently in Queensland and to create positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
“I would encourage anyone with an interest in the development of Queensland’s infrastructure pipeline to get a copy of the report and engage with QMCA, Construction Skills Queensland, Infrastructure Association Queensland and all stakeholders to start the process of collaboratively planning, funding and delivering the projects the state needs.
“In Queensland we like to be different and, in this instance, we must be different because we do not have the funding capabilities of New South Wales and Victoria. So, for our state to remain competitive, for our talent to be retained and our projects to be realised we must do things differently. To do that we must collaborate,” said Mr Anusas.
