Moreton Bay council has welcomed news of more than $800 million in federal funding to upgrade the Bruce Highway near Brisbane.
Council says the 2026-27 federal budget allocation of $812.5m will be spent on a section of the highway, between Gateway Motorway and Dohles Rocks Road.
This funding could possibly be complimented by future finance from a new $2 billion national Local Infrastructure Fund for housing infrastructure, it says.
Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway calls the new 2026-27 Budget a win for council and that the highway works will pave the way for even more housing projects.
“This funding is a welcome contribution that will ease congestion and supports our many years of advocacy for vital upgrades along this stretch of the Bruce Highway,” she says.
COUNCIL PRIORITY
“This lays the groundwork for council’s number one priority − the Bruce Highway Western Alternative; it is a major transport project for South-East Queensland that will open up land to boost housing supply.”
Shipway says the Western Alternative did not receive any funding in this Budget but calls it a regionally significant project.
“Beyond easing congestion and freight delays, the Western Alternative is critical to opening up new growth areas and unlocking housing supply at the scale required to meet demand,” she says.
She is also hopeful that council can get the funding it needs from the new infrastructure fund.
“Without vital infrastructure such as power, water, sewer and roads, housing just cannot be built,” she points out.
For Moreton Bay, council says more than 240 people are moving in every week with 13 greenfield sites under development.
“As the third largest council area in Australia, and one of the fastest growing, we hope (the) city would be an obvious front runner for this new fund,” Shipway says.
“If activated locally, this will deliver tangible benefits and fast-track housing supply. While more funding for enabling infrastructure is obviously needed, we acknowledge this as a really positive step forward.”
