Isaac's coal is world-class, but our roads are stuck in the slow lane
Published on 28 February 2025
Having lived in the Bowen Basin nearly all my life, I’ve seen both the successes and struggles of regional communities firsthand. The Isaac region, nestled in the heart of Queensland in between Mackay and Rockhampton is almost 25 times the size of the ACT, fuels the nation.
While our steelmaking coal is world-class and exported to countries across the globe, sadly, our roads are anything but.
We’re not asking for shiny new stadiums or extravagant big city projects — we just want decent roads so we can keep delivering for Australia.
Over the past decade, coal mines in our region have contributed $270 billion to Australia’s GDP.
Yes, that’s $270 BILLION — enough to construct 1,000 state-of-the-art hospitals across the nation, provide free university education for every Australian student for the next 20 years, install solar panels on every home, and build a high-speed rail network connecting all major cities, revolutionising transportation.
But here’s the thing — we’re only asking for less than one per cent of that to be reinvested into our roads.
Council’s plan proposes $103.5 million per year over five years for essential projects to improve safety and keep our industries moving.
Two key sections of the Peak Downs Highway need $38.5 million per year for five years:
- 20km between Nebo and Moranbah
- 57km between Moranbah and Clermont
Another $65 million per year is needed over five years for three critical roads:
- 23km of Peak Downs Mine Road
- 36km of Saraji Road
- 71km of Dysart-Middlemount Road
Every Australian benefits from the hard work of our Isaac communities, but our roads simply weren’t built to handle today’s heavy traffic.
Imagine trying to run the Melbourne Cup on a potholed paddock — that’s the reality our industries face every day.
We don’t need luxury. We don’t need extravagance. We just need roads that are safe, reliable, and fit-for-purpose. This Federal Election, invest in Isaac so we can keep powering the nation.
MAYOR KELLY VEA VEA
ISAAC REGIONAL COUNCIL