The good news in the Budget for engineers Monday, 14 May 2018

The release of the 2018 Federal Budget shows spending of $24.5 billion allocated for infrastructure across the country, $41 million toward the proposed Australian space agency, almost $30 million for research on machine learning and AI, and just over $393 million to implement the Research Infrastructure Investment Strategy.

VIC

Victoria will receive $7.6 billion from the federal government, most of which will go into the Melbourne Airport rail link ($5b) which may not start until 2026, a north-east toll road ($1.75b) and the rail link to the Clayton Campus of Monash University.

QLD

Queensland will receive $5.2 billion for projects including $1 billion to expand the M1 Motorway, $3.3 billion for upgrades to the Bruce Highway, and $170 million for the Amberley Interchange of the Cunningham Highway. Another $390 million is allocated for the Sunshine Coast rail line duplication, $390 million for the Brisbane Metro project, and $176 million for construction of Rockhampton’s Rookwood Weir.

WA

Western Australia will receive $2.8 billion for transport infrastructure and $189 million for hospitals. Another billion for the state is expected to come through via a revised GST carve-up.

NSW

New South Wales will only receive $1.5 billion for infrastructure projects. These include the upgrade of Port Botany rail link ($400m), and $50 million to investigate the business case for Badgery’s Creek airport rail link. There will $971 million set aside for a Coffs Harbour Bypass while $25 million has been allocated for a monument to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s arrival.

SA

South Australia will receive $1.5 billion in infrastructure funding for projects such as the North-South Corridor ($1.2 billion), $220 million to electrify the Gawler rail line, and $160 million for the duplication of the Joy Baluch Bridge in Port Augusta. 

TAS

Tasmania has been ear-marked for $921 million including $461 million for replacement of the Bridgewater Bridge and $400 million for roads.

NT

The Northern Territory has been allocated $259.6 million in funding with $100 million for the Buntine Highway upgrade and $180 million for the Central Arnhem Road upgrade.

ACT

The Australian Capital Territory received $100 million to upgrade the Monaro Highway and another $100 million to upgrade the Barton Highway.

 

Image: Illustration of the Brisbane Metro project. Source: Brisbane City Council