The Queensland Investment Corporation initially investigated a tunnel proposal known as Project Polaris in secret. After the government set aside $35 million for a study, a new entity called North Brisbane Infrastructure was established within QIC to move the project forward. Tolling operator Transurban also expressed interest in adding the tunnel to its network of paid routes through Brisbane. The project has the support of Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and his LNP-dominated council, who have examined similar proposals to determine the fate of the North West Transport Corridor. Despite claims from local MPs and the Mayor about potential motorway or railway developments in the corridor, there are no current plans to develop it.
During the council election in March, the lord mayor and the LNP campaigned in support of the tunnel proposal. Premier Steven Miles, under pressure to address south-east Queensland’s growing pains and lacking federal funding guarantees, has called for limits on overseas migration to align infrastructure plans with population growth. Miles claimed that high levels of migration have contributed to congestion, with 229,000 more daily trips on the region’s transportation networks over the past five years. While the Queensland government has not specified an ideal population growth level, Miles has welcomed recent commitments from federal leaders to slow international migration.
Despite local MPs’ claims of potential motorway projects, there are no current plans to develop the North West Transport Corridor running west of the proposed tunnel route. The LNP-dominated council and the lord mayor have shown support for the tunnel project, though there is ongoing debate about the best use of the corridor. Tolling operator Transurban’s interest in adding the tunnel to its paid route network adds another layer to the discussions surrounding the project. Premier Steven Miles has raised concerns about infrastructure not keeping pace with population growth due to high migration levels, prompting calls for restrictions on overseas migration.
The Queensland government’s study of the tunnel proposal, funded with $35 million, led to the establishment of North Brisbane Infrastructure within QIC to push the project forward. Despite claims from local MPs and the Mayor about potential developments in the North West Transport Corridor, there are currently no plans to develop it. The support of the lord mayor and the LNP-dominated council for the tunnel project comes amid ongoing debates about the best use of the corridor. Premier Steven Miles has raised concerns about the impact of high levels of overseas migration on congestion and infrastructure, calling for limits on migration to align with population growth.
Premier Steven Miles has highlighted the impact of high migration levels on congestion, with 229,000 more daily trips on south-east Queensland’s transportation networks over the past five years. While the Queensland government has not specified an optimal population growth level, recent commitments from federal leaders to slow international migration have been welcomed. The tunnel proposal, initially investigated in secret by QIC as Project Polaris, has gained momentum with the establishment of North Brisbane Infrastructure. The ongoing debate about potential developments in the North West Transport Corridor and Tolling operator Transurban’s interest in the project add further complexity to the discussions surrounding the project.
