The Queensland government has revealed the total cost of a major Queensland project, which faces years of delays, is $17 billion. According to figures provided to the LNP government by Department of Transport officials, Cross River Rail will be the most expensive infrastructure project in the state’s history. The LNP is now pointing the finger at Labor, claiming the former Miles government hid the costs from Queenslanders and that they are likely to rise.
A massive Queensland project with a total cost of $17 billion is facing years of delays, the state government has revealed. (Channel 9) “It’s going to cost at least $17 billion, so I guess that’s the best-case scenario,” said Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg. Originally due to start operating in 2026, Cross River Rail will now be delayed by several years. “I’ve heard that Cross River Rail is likely to start carrying passengers in 2029,” Mickelberg said. The project was originally launched in 2019 with an investment of $5.4 billion but has experienced several cost overruns, such as in 2023 when cost increases were limited to 17.5%. Mickelberg said the total cost of the tunnel itself had increased to $10.5 billion due to private financing repayments and maintenance costs over the 25-year contract.
An extra $1.5 billion has been spent due to project delays and contractor claims. (Ninth) On top of that, $5 billion is needed to operate Cross River Rail, including items such as trains, depots, new signalling, replacement buses for passengers during construction and works to connect the tunnel to the rail network. “These are all parts of the Cross River Rail project that Labor has not considered,” Mickelberg said. An extra $1.5 billion has been spent due to project delays and contractor claims. Work on the project is only halfway done. “We need to make sure the project is completed now and it will deliver benefits for Queenslanders,” Mickelberg said.