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Description

• Construction of the Toowoomba Bypass will expand Australia's productivity capacity. It will specifically address key challenges, short-term deficiencies, and short-term (to 2015) strategic priorities associated with both the Melbourne - Brisbane Corridor, and the Brisbane - Darwin Corridor, key elements of the AusLink National Network.
• The development of agreed options for construction of the road crossing of the Toowoomba Range, including a bypass of the City of Toowoomba, is directly linked to AusLink objectives relating to capacity, efficiency, reliability, safety, and productivity.

Project Benefits

• Construction of the Toowoomba Bypass will lead to an increase in Australia's productivity. Toowoomba plays a pivotal role in the nation's transport network.
• The proposed range crossing incorporating the Toowoomba Bypass will facilitate freight and other movement between the Darling Downs and South East Queensland, including products destined for export through the Port of Brisbane.
• Construction of the Toowoomba Bypass will facilitate diversification of Australia's economic capabilities.
• The Surat Energy Resources Province contains substantial, but currently largely undeveloped thermal coal and coal seam gas with lesser, conventional petroleum resources.
• Construction of the Toowoomba Bypass will build on Australia's global competitive advantages, primarily as outlined in relation to previous criterion. The Bypass will facilitate transport movements on relevant national corridors and thus reduce associated costs, including in relation to export products.
• The Queensland Government has identified the Toowoomba Bypass as a priority infrastructure project needed to tackle urban growth i.e. urban congestion and its costs. Interestingly, upgrades to sections of the relevant AusLink Corridors extending west and south-west from Toowoomba, are identified as priority infrastructure projects needed to support the growth of major industrial centres, to boost economic production; in this case associated with development of the Surat Energy Resources Province.
• Construction of the Toowoomba Bypass will facilitate development in the Darling Downs region, including within the City of Toowoomba.
• In addition to facilitating development of the Surat Energy Resources Province, and of the Charlton / Wellcamp Integrated Employment Area, construction of the Bypass will aid in managing urban growth in Toowoomba and in revitalising the Toowoomba city centre.
• The direct benefits flowing from the Bypass project will be significant; the net economic impact on the Darling Downs and South East Queensland regions will be highly positive.
• Construction of the Toowoomba Bypass will lead to a reduction in greenhouse emissions within the local area.
• Construction of the Toowoomba Bypass will improve social equity and quality of life particularly within the local area. The Toowoomba community value the City's regional location and accessibility to Brisbane and the Coast, but are concerned about worsening traffic congestion particularly associated with increasing heavy vehicle movements in the urban area.
• The Bypass will improve safety and reduce congestion on the existing range crossing and improve amenity though Toowoomba by significantly reducing the number of heavy vehicles, including B-Doubles, travelling through the urban area.
• The Bypass will significantly reduce accidents and associated fatalities associated with the range crossing.
• The Toowoomba Bypass will form a key linkage in the AusLink National Network, facilitating movement on both the Melbourne - Brisbane and Brisbane - Darwin Corridors. The Melbourne - Brisbane Corridor acts, in part, as a major interstate transport route for passengers and freight.
• In addition to key road connections, the proposed Bypass corridor is co-located with a northern section of the Melbourne - Brisbane / Gladstone inland rail corridor thus presenting an opportunity for inter-modal transfers.