The South East Queensland City Deal is one step closer to fruition, with all three levels of government expected to sign off on the $1.8 billion project.
Its designers say the deal will facilitate more than 30 projects focused on upgrading the region's transport network, the digital network and the region's "liveability".
Under the proposal, all three levels of government will contribute funding, along with money also to come from industry:
- The federal government is to invest $667.77 million
- The state government is to provide $618.78 million
- The Council of Mayors of South East Queensland is to jointly tip in $501.62 million
- An additional $75 million is to come from industry
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all three levels of government had come together to support the growing population of south-east Queensland.
"South-east Queensland is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia and, with the population expected to continue to grow, it is crucial that we invest in the infrastructure it needs to thrive for decades to come," he said.
"From Brisbane to Toowoomba, Ipswich to the Sunshine Coast, and everywhere in between, this deal delivers for south-east Queenslanders."
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said "the winners are Queenslanders".
"The City Deal provides vital infrastructure to plan for our growing population," she said.
Key transport infrastructure projects include:
- Federal government and Brisbane City Council will partner to build the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge ($190.2 million)
- All three levels of government will co-invest in a new Brisbane Metro station at Woolloongabba ($450 million)
- The federal and state government and Logan City Council will "support" the revitalisation of the Loganlea/Meadowbrook precinct ($45 million)
- The federal and state government and Redland City Council will upgrade the Ferry Terminal at Junner Street, Dunwich on North Stradbroke ($41 million)
- There will also be various studies and reports prepared on road, public transport and urban revitalisations projects
Gabba transport hub 'real centrepiece of this deal'
Ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, federal Communications and Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said the Woolloongabba metro station was the "real centrepiece of this deal".
"We need to prepare for the growth that south-east Queensland is experiencing ... also the Olympics — while this is not the Olympics deal between governments, it's an important pre-cursor and demonstration of our collected capability to agreed priorities," he said.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said it would become a major new transport hub.
"People will be able to change from Metro to trains here, access our new train station and of course get to and from the fantastic Olympics venue, the Gabba that will be rebuilt."
More than $100 million will go towards progressing the region towards a circular economy by developing a region-wide approach to managing waste.
Telecommunications networks will also receive a boost of $70 million to upgrade infrastructure and digital connectivity.
The South East Queensland Liveability Fund will receive a $285 million boost to assist in the delivery of council projects with social and economic priority.
Addressing flooding concerns
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the deal also contained a $40 million investment into resilient rivers.
"One of the big challenges with any flood in south-east Queensland is the rich fertile soil from the Lockyer Valley getting washed down into the Brisbane River into people's homes and businesses," he said.
"Resilient rivers will help address that issue by keeping the soil on the ground where it belongs.
He said the new infrastructure would be built with "flood resilience" in mind.
"The reality is anything we build these days is built with flood resilience and climate resilience in mind," he said.
"We built two ferry terminals just before Christmas, one at Howard Smith Wharves and one at South Bank, those ferry terminals are still standing strong after this dramatic flood that we've had, because we built them strong."
'A foundation for the future'
Planning Institute of Australia president Shannon Batch welcomed what she said was the largest city deal signed in the country.
"With another 1.58 million residents expected over the next 20 years, this city deal is a platform for a genuine partnership around the investments and planning we need to ensure SEQ is liveable, sustainable and prosperous," Ms Batch said.
"Planners see this deal as a foundation for the future, but not as the final word. It will be essential for all three levels of government to work with industry to build and evolve the deal as key planning initiatives are undertaken."
Mr Schrinner said the investment would have significant ongoing benefits for residents.
"People want to come and live here and I know why, we all know why," he said.
"The critical thing is dealing with that growth with investment in infrastructure, with investment in the liveability of our region and this is exactly what the deal does.
"It will create a more liveable region, a more connected region, a region with more jobs and it will be a region that we will be able to welcome more people to because of that investment."
