The lion’s share of $400m in funding for the Bruce Highway to be included in tonight’s Budget needs to be directed to flood-proofing Goorganga Plains just south of Proserpine.

The Morrison Liberal National Government announced funding of $400 million would be allocated for significant upgrades between Mackay and Proserpine and Rockhampton and Gladstone, as part of a total of $1.6 billion for the Bruce Highway.

This $400 million will be of huge benefit to North Queensland and shows the Morrison Liberal National Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure in our regional areas.

But there is no doubt that big bucks for the Bruce need to go to Goorganga.

The stretch of Goorganga Plains just south of Prosperine is the area that needs to be addressed.

We are still waiting on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to complete the planning study on how best to flood-proof Goorganga, and I hope we will see that completed soon, as the $12 million in funding we provided for this was included in the 2018 Budget papers.

I’ve been informed the State Government’s businesses case for Goorganga will be ready next year so let’s see funding put aside to get started on the job as soon as we are able.

Funding for works on the Bruce Highway is set to deliver more than 600 direct jobs and will have huge long-term benefits for North Queensland by providing better passage for freight and tourism, and improved road safety.

The $400 million in funding is part of the Morrison Liberal National Government’s $10 billion commitment towards the Bruce Highway Upgrade Program.