“Nation Building Infrastructure - As a centrepiece of the 2009 10 Budget, the Government is investing $22 billion to improve the quality, adequacy and efficiency of transport, communications, energy, education and health infrastructure across Australia — the building blocks of the future economy.
The Government's investment in nation building infrastructure will support an average of around 15,000 jobs each year, peaking at around 18,000 in 2011 12.
In addition, the National Broadband Network will directly support up to 25,000 jobs every year on average over the life of the project.”
The $22 billion funding covers roads, rail, & ports, Clean Energy Initiative, universities, research, hospitals plus broadband.
Of this the vital infrastructure for rail, roads & ports gets just $8.4B.
Rail projects; the lions share is $3.2 billion to Victoria for a dual rail link from Werribee in Melbourne's west to Southern Cross Station in central Melbourne. Queensland gets $365 million towards a light rail corridor for the Gold Coast; while WA gets $236 million towards the central city section of the Perth to Fremantle rail line. SA ends with a few million for minor rail improvements.
Road projects; NSW gets $1.5 billion for the the Hunter Expressway freight corridor, between the F3 and the New England Highway near Branxton, $618 million towards a dual carriageway bypass of Kempsey and Frederickton to the east of the Pacific Highway. and Queensland gets $884 million to upgrade Ipswich Motorway from Dinmore to Goodna (While Sydney seems conspicuous for its absence).
Only $389m is allocated to ports; with two ports listed, Oakajee Port & Darwin.
- In my opinion a golden chance largely wasted ; hope I'm wrong.
