AUGUST 17, 2016: I WELCOME the news that initial work is about to begin on the $565 million Mackay Ring Road Stage 1, ahead of major construction next year.This is a major infrastructure investment for the Mackay region which will improve safety and traffic flow, and provide 600 jobs while doing so.It is great news for Mackay, and something that I have campaigned long and hard to see funded. Now we are finally at the point where  early works can begin.I campaigned for work to start this year, and now that work is beginning this year so I thank the State Government for their efforts in that regard.

• Stage One of the Mackay Ring Road is a 11.6 kilometre, two-lane highway to divert traffic from the Bruce Highway at Stockroute Road to the west of town, and through to the Bald Hill Road intersection to the north.
• It will mean motorists will avoid 10 signalised intersections from Stockroute Road to Bald Hill Road, and will involve 14 new bridges, including local road overpasses and major waterway crossings of the Pioneer River and the Fursden Creek floodplain,” he said.

It provides a huge jobs and work boost for the city and I encourage the State Government to ensure that local contractors and local workers are given first consideration.The Mackay Ring Road Stage 1 is the single largest infrastructure project ever to be undertaken in the Mackay region.The Liberal National Government committed the funding to make this happen in its 2014 Budget.It’s 80 per cent federally funded – so that's a $448 million contribution towards the $565 million project.